RANGERS will look to potentially climb into the top eight of the newly formed league phase in the Europa League as they face a tricky trip to the French Riviera to take on Ligue 1 side Nice.
Rangers have managed to bounce back from their 1-4 loss at home to Lyon on MD2 as they put four unanswered goals past a limited FCSB side before claiming a valuable point in Piraeus against reigning Conference League holders Olympiakos.
That result in Greece has moved Rangers to 10th position in the newly formed league phase table in the Europa League on seven points, just two points outside the top eight.
However, Phillipe Clement’s side travel to the southeastern coast of France off the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Dundee United, which has since seen them fall 11 points behind leaders Celtic and nine behind second-placed Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership table.
Perhaps a little surprisingly, Nice remains winless in the league phase of the Europa League, picking up just two points from their opening four matches (W0-D2-L2).
Nice were on course for a third consecutive continental defeat after back-to-back losses away at Lazio and Ferencvaros, but Les Aiglons came from two goals down to rescue a point at home to FC Twente last time out.
However, domestically, Franck Haise’s men have picked up a bit of form as they are unbeaten in each of their past eight Ligue 1 contests (W4-D4-L0) – winning three of their past four – to move them up to fifth in the table just three points behind third-placed Marseille.
How the bookies view it: Nice look a nice bet
Despite still being winless in this competition, Nice are favourites to claim all three points, with William Hill offering odds of 5/6 for a home success.
Bet365 are pricing Rangers at 10/3 underdogs to claim all three points, whilst a draw is priced at 14/5.
Head to head: Not nice history for Gers
These two sides faced off in the last-16 in the 1956/57 European Cup, in which both sides won the home leg 2-1 before Nice won the replay 3-1 in ‘neutral’ Paris.
Players to watch: Boga to bag again?
Former Chelsea youngster Jeremie Boga has scored twice for Nice in the Europa League this term, including the first in their 2-2 draw with Twente last time out.
Vaclav Cerny has been, without a doubt, Rangers' most dangerous player in the past couple of months and scored their equaliser in their draw with Dundee United at the weekend.
Probable line-ups
Sofiane Diop was sent off against Twente on MD4, so he will be suspended here, alongside Moise Bombito, whilst the likes of Jonathan Clauss, Morgan Sanson and striker Terem Moffi are out injured.
On-loan Feyenoord defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo picked up a nasty-looking injury for the Dutch U21s during the international break and will join Tom Lawrence, Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo on the sidelines.
Nice: Bulka, Louchet, Dante, Ndayishimiye, Bard, Boudaoui, Rosario, Guessand, Cho, Boga, Laborde
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte, Barron, Raskin, Diomande, Bajrami, Cerny, Dessers
Anything else catch the eye?”
In both of Rangers’ opening two Europa League fixtures on the road, I have backed against them, and both times, they have picked up a result – in arguably two of their best performances of the season – but surely it won’t happen for a third time on the bounce.
Nice remain unbeaten in both league and Europe in front of their supporters this campaign (W3-D5-L0) – and whilst the majority of them have been draws – I’m happy to back the Ligue 1 side against a Rangers team that was poor once again at Ibrox on Saturday.
Ex-Lens boss Franck Haise has seen his new side find the back of the net in all eight of their Ligue 1 and Europa League contests on home soil this term – firing two or more goals in each of their past four – and I’m also happy to back the French side to score at least twice in the French Riviera on Thursday evening.
This UEFA Europa League match between Nice and Rangers will be played on Nov 28, 2024 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Nice vs Rangers prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
