Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
Mestsky stadion Miroslava Valenty will host Thursday’s Conference League game between Slovacko and Nice, who meet for the first time ever in European competitions. Slovacko aim to build on a 2-0 league win over Zlin, and they are eager to record their first win in Group D. Head coach Martin Svedik should have a full squad to choose from for the Nice game.
Les Aiglons, on the other hand, dropped two points in a 1-1 draw with Partizan, but a win over Slovacko could see them climb to top position in the standings. Given the number of high-profile players in the away team, we predict that the Ligue 1 outfit are going to emerge triumphant in Thursday’s clash. A man to watch in the away team will be summer signing Ross Barkley, while defender Jean-Clair Todibo is back from a domestic ban. The good news for the visitors is that Wales international Aaron Ramsey has overcome his injury.
Highlighted Player (Nicolas Pépé):
Born in France to parents of Ivorian descent, Nicolas Pepe became a full Ivory Coast international in 2016. In a symbolic twist of events, Pepe was handed his Ivory Coast debut in a goalless draw against his birth nation France days after receiving his first-ever call-up.
Pepe began his career in the lower leagues in Poitiers in 2012, before moving to Angers a year later. Having proven his qualities in the second-string side, Pepe was instated in Angers’ first team in 2013. Four years later – which included a season-long loan spell at Orleans – Nicolas Pepe was transferred to Lille. Les Dogues beat several sides to the signature of this pacey winger who is no stranger to scoring goals. Quick with his feet, Pepe can be deployed on the right wing and as a centre-forward.
The Ivory Coast international is unpredictable in his movement and not easy to keep an eye on, especially because of his powerful left foot.
Highlighted Team (Nice):
OGC Nice are a football club that participate in French Ligue 1. Les Aiglons welcome their opponents at Allianz Riviera and the club was founded on 9 July, 1904 by Marquis Massengy d’ Auzac.
OGC Nice won their first Ligue 1 trophy back in 1951 and eight years later they clinched their fourth and last domestic title. Speaking of the French Cup, les Aiglons won their third Coupe de France title in 1997. Allianz Riviera has been the home ground of the club since September, 2013 and it has to be noted that the construction of the venue cost €250 million. OGC Nice play their home games in red and black shirts and black shorts, while the colour of their away kits is white.
The Ligue 1 team booked their place in the Europa League group stages for the 2016/2017 season for the first time in the club’s history and they were drawn alongside Schalke 04, Salzburg and Krasnodar in Group I. However, they were beaten by Schalke in their Europa League opener in front of home fans.