Nice vs Metz – News and Probable Lineups

Nice will strive to secure their place in Ligue 1 as they host Metz at the Allianz Riviera for the season’s final match on Sunday.

The home side sits in the relegation playoff position as the season wraps up, trailing 15th-placed Auxerre on goal difference and one point behind 14th-placed Le Havre.

Match overview

Nice’s longstanding presence in Ligue 1, which spans 24 years, is in jeopardy, as they find themselves in the relegation playoff zone going into the last day of the campaign.

After finishing fourth in the 2024-25 season, Nice now finds itself languishing in 16th place with only 31 points accrued from 33 matches, resulting from seven wins, 10 draws, and 16 losses.

With only the 18th-placed Metz conceding more than the 60 goals allowed by Nice this season, their tally of 37 goals scored results in a goal difference of -23.

This situation means Nice trails 15th-placed Auxerre on goal difference, is one point behind 14th-placed Le Havre, and three points shy of 13th-placed Angers.

To avoid the relegation playoff and maintain their top-flight status, Nice must achieve a better outcome on the final day than either Auxerre or Le Havre, while a win combined with an Angers defeat and a four-goal swing in goal difference would also ensure survival.

Claude Puel’s squad approaches this match in poor form, having lost three and drawn four of their last seven Ligue 1 matches, including a damaging 2-1 defeat against relegation rival Auxerre last week.

Nonetheless, Nice will be facing the bottom-placed team on the final day, and with the advantage of home support at Allianz Riviera, they will be optimistic about securing all three points.

Metz’s relegation from Ligue 1 was confirmed after a 2-1 defeat to AS Mônaco earlier this month, leaving Benoit Tavenot’s squad with little motivation heading into Sunday.

The visitors have managed to collect only 16 points across their 33 Ligue 1 matches, with a record of three wins, seven draws, and a significant 23 losses.

They have not celebrated a league victory since they achieved three consecutive wins between October and November, accounting for all of their Ligue 1 successes this season, leaving them without a win in their last 21 league matches leading into Sunday.

A notable recent victory was a 2-1 win against Nice in the previous fixture, with Gauthier Hein equalizing for Metz before Habib Diallo netted the decisive goal in the 84th minute.

Despite Metz’s confirmed relegation and the lack of substantial stakes, Tavenot’s team will aim to replicate that success and conclude the season on a high note.

Team News

For Sunday’s match, Nice will be missing Everton Pereira due to injury and Melvin Bard due to suspension, while Moise Bombito and Mohamed Abdelmonem are both uncertain to participate.

A potential defensive setup could include Jonathan Clauss, Antoine Mendy, Abdulay Juma Bah, Kojo Peprah Oppong, and Ali Abdi, while the offense will rely on Sofiane Diop, Mohamed Ali Cho, and Morgan Sanson.

On the other hand, Metz will be without Boubacar Traore, Joseph Mangondo, and Nathan Mbala, all ruled out by injury.

Diallo, who found the net in the earlier encounter against Nice, may step in for Mbala in the attacking line, partnering with Giorgi Tsitaishvili, Gauthier Hein, and Giorgi Kvilitaia.

Nice probable starting XI:

Diouf; Clauss, Mendy, Bah, Oppong, Abdi; Sanson, Boudaoui, Samed, Diop; Cho

Metz probable starting XI:

Mother; Kouao, Sane, Yegbe, Sarr; Gbamin, Deminguet; Kvilitaia, Hein, Tsitaishvili; Diallo

With the home fans behind them, Nice will have significant motivation to achieve a win to ensure their survival in the top division.

Although Metz won the previous encounter, they have been winless in the league since November and have managed only one away victory this season, leading us to anticipate another loss and vital three points for Nice.