Nice v Metz: play-off peril meets basement battle | OneFootball

Nice host Metz in Ligue 1 on Sunday, 17 May 2026 in Nice, with the hosts in the relegation play-off place and the visitors bottom, turning this into a high-stakes survival clash.

Nice sit 16th on 31 points, while Metz are 18th with 16. The reverse fixture finished 2-1 to Metz in November.

Les Aiglons are winless in their last five league games, drawing four before losing at Auxerre last time out. Metz have lost four of their past five in the league, including a 4-0 home defeat against Lorient.

Nice are without suspended defender Melvin Michel Maxence Bard, while Moïse Bombito and Everton Pereira da Silva are injured. Metz list Boubacar Traoré, Ousmane Ba, Cleo Mélières, Joseph Mangondo, Nathan Mbala and Jahyann Pandore as sidelined.

Les Aiglons could lean on width and delivery. They have produced 440 open-play crosses at 22.05% accuracy this season, with Jonathan Clauss on six league assists and Sofiane Diop leading their scoring with eight. Metz have conceded 76 league goals but retain threat through Gauthier Hein, who has eight goals and seven assists, with Giorgi Kvilitaia an outlet up front.

A win would move Les Aiglons to 34 points and could lift them out of the play-off spot. Metz would rise to 19 points with victory and remain in the relegation zone, but it would cut the gap and keep hopes alive heading into the run-in.