Bottom-placed Metz face daunting Ligue 1 test against rampant PSG

Metz are rooted to the foot of the table with just 11 points from 15 matches, while PSG sit second with 33 points and are pushing to close the one point gap on surprise leaders Lens going into the winter break.

Metz's recent run has been dismal. They have lost their last three Ligue 1 games, including a damaging 3-1 defeat by Auxerre that sent them back to the bottom of the standings. The team have conceded more goals than any other side in the division this season, and only one club in the last four seasons has lost as many matches at this stage and still survived relegation. Metz have collected most of their points at home, with two victories and two draws from seven league games there, but they have also been beaten three times at Stade Saint-Symphorien.

PSG arrive on form that is strong overall but mixed away from home. They have won six and drawn three of their last ten Ligue 1 outings, with their lone defeat, a 1-0 loss at Monaco, costing them top spot. PSG have scored more away goals than any other team in the league so far, a return that underlines the threat they pose on the road, though they drew 0-0 in midweek in the Champions League and have claimed only two league wins in five matches following European fixtures.

The head-to-head record heavily favours the Parisians. Metz have lost each of their last 14 league meetings with PSG, and that sequence is one defeat shy of the all-time record for consecutive losses by one team against another in Ligue 1 history.

Midfielder Gauthier Hein has been a rare bright spark for Metz, scoring four goals in his last five league appearances. Manager Stephane Le Mignan has often said Hein's energy and goals have given the home fans something to cheer, with Metz unbeaten in seven of his scoring matches at Stade Saint-Symphorien. PSG's Lee Kang-in has contributed a goal and an assist in his last four league matches and was influential in the corresponding fixture last season.

Metz are likely to be without Joseph Mangondo and Urie-Michel Mboula due to injury, and key PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier has missed recent matches, while Ousmane Dembele sat out their midweek clash through illness. Both managers will have to weigh selection carefully with the busy schedule around the winter break.

Metz must find resilience and tactical clarity if they are to break their slump, but if PSG's attacking assets click early, the visitors could deal a heavy blow to Metz's hopes of survival before the season reaches its halfway point.