After his defeat, on the wire, against OM, last Sunday, the club at the Croix de Lorraine, challenges another big car in the championship, Lille. At the Pierre Mauroy stadium, the Messins (19th) hope, against the Northerners (10th), to create a surprise. Especially since the LOSC will, perhaps in mind, its knockout stages of the Champions League, this Tuesday, February 22, on the lawn of Chelsea.
Still without Centonze and de Préville
The days follow and look alike for FC Metz, which will again be deprived, this Friday, of two major elements, the striker Nicolas de Preville and the defender Fabien Centonzealways wounded. But Fred Antonetti, the garnet coach, foresees a possible return of these players, for the reception of FC Nantes, next weekend.
Another absentee in the North: the defender Jean-Armel Kana-Biyikwho had already missed the reception of Marseille.
Kevin N’Doram and Matthew Udol continue their stay in the messine infirmary.
Good news, however, about Habib Maigascorer against OM, but touched last Sunday, is finally operational for this inaugural match of the 25th day of Ligue 1.
Lille has badly digested its title of champion and the departure of coach Galtier
10th in Ligue 1, with 9 wins, 8 draws and 7 losses, Lille account today, 24 points behind the Parisian leader. The title of champion of France, acquired last May, is now a distant memory.
But LOSC has performed better on the European scene. Jocelyn Gourvennec’s men have passed the group stage and will challenge defending champion Chelsea and world champion N’Golo Kanté on Tuesday.
Since the start of the return phase of the championship, the Dogues have two victories, in Montpellier (0-1) and against Lorient (3-1), a draw in Marseille (1-1), and two defeats, in Brest (0 -2) and against PSG (1-5).
This Friday, FC Metz, could cross, in Lille, the road of a certain Hatem Ben Arfa : the former nugget of OL, OM, and Newcastle, without a club at the start of the season, agreed last January to take up the Lille challenge. And for Farid Boulaya, the Metz leader, who saw him at work, at the Vélodrome, ” he’s a real artist ! “.
A glance in the retro: a maintenance acquired in Lille in 2017
All competitions combined, according to the database of the FC Metz website, Grenats and Lille have opposed 106 times! Advantage to the Mastiffs who have won 42 times, against 35 Lorraine successes and 29 draws.
On Lille land, FC Metz is hardly successful, with only 6 wins, against 31 defeats and 15 draws.
In May 2017, thanks to the achievements of Renaud Cohade and Georges Mandjeck, the Grenats of coach Hinschberger, were able to validate their maintenance in Ligue 1.
In the first leg, last August, FC Metz was caught on the wire by Lille (3-3), the Northerners equalizing after the end of additional time.