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OGC Nice head into this season’s Europa League with a point to prove. Last year’s European campaign was a major disappointment, as the French side finished second-to-last in the standings, collecting just three points from eight games without a single win. The poor showing left fans frustrated and set the stage for higher expectations this year.
Domestically, the Aiglons earned a 4th-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, but their current form has been uneven. Franck Haise’s men stumbled early, losing to Toulouse (0-1) and Le Havre (1-3), while salvaging a 3-1 win over Auxerre before the international break. They managed to regain momentum with a narrow but convincing 1-0 victory against Nantes, a performance that hinted at improved stability. The Europa League, however, presents a far greater challenge, and Nice will need to show resilience to compete against stronger European rivals.
Roma’s Stronger European Pedigree
AS Roma enjoyed a much deeper run in last year’s Europa League. After finishing 15th in the regular season rankings, they advanced by knocking out AZ Alkmaar and FC Porto before bowing out to Athletic Bilbao in the quarterfinals. Their European journey reflected the competitive edge that the Italian giants consistently bring to the tournament.
In Serie A, Roma narrowly missed out on a top-four finish and a Champions League place, but they’ve started the new campaign with measured success. Wins against Bologna (1-0) and Pisa (1-0) gave them a solid base, although a surprise 0-1 home defeat to Torino brought them back down to earth. The Rome derby against Lazio loomed as another key test of their ambitions before their trip to the French Riviera.
Team News and Key Players
Franck Haise faces several selection headaches for Nice. Long-term absentees Ndayishimiye and Abdelmone remain sidelined, while Ndombélé could return to the squad after recovering from injury. Young talents Cho and Bombito are still in rehabilitation but might feature in a limited capacity. Recent signings Ameen Vanhoutte, brought in from Union Saint-Gilloise, and Benfica loanee Gouveia have already shown promise in Ligue 1 and could play important roles in this fixture.
For Roma, Paulo Dybala’s absence is a significant blow, while new signing Leon Bailey is also unavailable due to injury. Even so, the squad remains strong. Winger Matías Soulé, already on the scoresheet in Serie A, could line up alongside Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk and newcomer Ferguson in attack. In midfield, French international Manu Koné has become a key figure for both club and country, anchoring play and driving transitions forward.
Prediction
Nice’s recent Europa League record makes grim reading — eight losses in their last ten home games, with four consecutive matches without scoring. Roma, although not flawless on their travels, have been far more consistent, suffering just one defeat in their last seven away fixtures in the competition.
With greater squad depth and stronger European experience, Roma look well placed to edge this contest. Nice may show fight at home, but the Italian side’s attacking trio should provide the cutting edge.
Prediction: OGC Nice 1 – 2 AS Roma
