Metz vs Saint-Etienne preview - Nothing can stop us - Galtier

Posted Friday, March 13, 2015 by PA

St Etienne coach Christophe Galtier is hoping his side can build on their three-match unbeaten run as they look to claim a top-five finish in Ligue 1 this season.

Les Verts currently sit one point behind fourth-placed Monaco, who have a game in hand, following Sunday's 2-0 victory over Lorient at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard which came after draws at home to high-flying Marseille and away to struggling Toulouse.

Ahead of Saturday's trip to rock-bottom Metz, Galtier told his club's official website www.asse.fr: "We must maintain this pace.

"We need to improve following our success against Lorient. It will not be easy. But if we want to finish in the top five, we will need to go and claim back the points lost at home."

The 48-year-old coach is focused on Saturday's match against lowly Metz, but knows their opponents will put up a battle as they are fighting for their Ligue 1 survival at the bottom.

He added: "Metz still hope to continue. The championship is not over yet.

"It will be a certainly very rhythmic and very committed game. We need to focus on our game and not the opponent."

Franck Tabanou could feature for the visitors at Stade Saint-Symphorien following a muscle injury but the match comes too early for both Paul Baysse (quadriceps) and Ishmael Diomande (hamstring).

Metz suffered a double blow earlier this week with the news that Juan Falcon and Johann Carrasso will be ruled out of action for the next few weeks through injury so neither will be in action this weekend.

Venezuela striker Falcon faces a six-week spell on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring tear during a reserves match, while France Under-21 goalkeeper Carrasso was hit in the groin during last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Rennes and could be out for three weeks.

Albert Cartier's men are currently bottom of the table and nine points from safety - alongside Lens - after failing to record a win in their last 16 Ligue 1 matches and take on St Etienne hoping to end a two-match losing streak.