Bastia vs Metz preview - Alas, poor Yannick cannot enjoy win

Posted Friday, February 06, 2015 by PA

Bastia may have the Coupe de la Ligue final on the horizon, but midfielder Yannick Cahuzac says this weekend's league match against Metz is far more important.

On Wednesday, the Corsican side won at Monaco on penalties to secure their place in the April finale against behemoths Paris Saint-Germain.

It is just the second time they have made the Coupe de la Ligue final, but before that Bastia have more pressing concerns in Ligue 1.

Despite having gone unbeaten in six league matches, they still sit dangerously close to the relegation zone, making Saturday's clash with rock-bottom Metz crucially important for Cahuzac and his team-mates.

"Our European Cup for us is the championship," the midfielder said.

"On Saturday we play a much larger final than on April 11 against PSG as we face Metz.

"We cannot relax and enjoy (making the final). We can think of the final after the weekend of April 5 - but not before."

Bastia will be without goalkeeper Thomas Vincensini and on-loan Sunderland midfielder El-Hadji Ba against Metz through injury, while Junior Tallo remains at the African Nations Cup with the Ivory Coast.

The Corsican club will also be without striker Brandao, who is serving a six-month ban for headbutting Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta.

Metz welcome West Ham loanee Modibo Maiga and Ahmed Kashi back after the African Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea.

Kevin Lejeune and striker Kwame Nsor are available after injury at Stade Armand Cesari, as is defender Guido Milan.

Former Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda is still at least two weeks away from returning from a hamstring complaint, while Federico Andrada and Thibaut Vion are absent with ankle and knee complaints, respectively.