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Metz testing new attacking weapon

Brest are tired and disappointed following the defeat to Nancy in the derby match last Sunday but will never give up on the Cup

The only wins Metz have in the last three and a half months are in the Cup games, against third-tiers Espinal and Avranches. Round of 16 match is to put them to a more challenging test as they face one of the candidates for promotion to the top division Brest. This is a good chance for Metz to acquire some of the confidence for the league race, in which they're lagging behind more and more as times goes by. 

Metz lost to their rival Bastie last Saturday after quite a good first part performance. They let go in the second half after center back Milan sent-off and just like a week ago in the Nice game, offense was the weak point of the squad.

- We need to forget about it as soon as possible. Well-experienced players like Marchal and Lejeune have the task of preparing the younger players. This team has potential, it just needs to set it in motion - coach Cartier said.

Malouda, the most experienced player who is at the same time the one key to offense has not yet recovered but Metz will present their new acquisition today. It is Sassi, one of the two Tunisian players who signed up before the AFCON.

- He's a midfielder with great technical skills. He's always looking to pass and get his teammate in a good situation - Cartier said about his acquisition. Other than Milan who will miss the game with a suspension, three other starters from Saturday won't be here today (Philipps, Bussmann, and N'Daw).

Visitors are tired and disappointed after the derby match with Nancy last Monday. They started well for the second straight game, took the lead, and then their game gradually declined to leave them with no points.

The coach couldn't count on 4 starters on Monday and things got only worse in the meantime since center back Martial ended up on the injury-list as well. Good news is, defender Moimbe is back after missing the last game with a suspension. Brest's midfield is particularly affected since the two top midfielders aren't available.

They have two very important league meetings in the next eight days (Nimes and Arles) but coach Dupont has no plans on giving up on the Cup:

- We have the team that can survive two competitions and I will go with the best I have today. It's important that we are not under pressure on the pitch and that we stay tough and focused. 

Metz had bad luck in their last few games: they started off well both against Lyon and Bastia, and then got wrecked by suspensions (same player, interestingly), against Nice they dominated but were distracted by a snowstorm. Now they'll face a second league team, both tired and in poor form, and I expect them to fire all pistons against Brest. The away team shuffled things around a lot in the transition period and will need time to tune in, with absences of key players making things even more difficult. Away matches are their chronic ailment, though they improved a bit this year, but the motivated and reinforced first league opponent will be their toughest test so far. Last year they twice lost against Metz (who won the league), 0-3 at home and 0-1 away.