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UEL Preview: OGC Nice-Real Sociedad
A deceptively poor start?
Nice will face a Real Sociedad side, who, since their loss to Paris Saint-Germain in last year's UEFA Champions League, has had a bit of a tough go of things, countenancing the departures of Spanish internationals Robin Le Normand and Mikel Merino. They've moved to replace those players, of course -- former Stade Rennais defender Nayef Aguerd has been among their summer arrivals -- but things haven't yet gone to plan for Imanol Alguacil's side in La Liga.
Goals have been the main source of frustration for the team -- they've scored just three times in seven La Liga matches, and even suffered ignominious home defeats to the likes of Álaves and Rayo Vallecano, teams few would have expected to have had success at the Anoeta. Alguacil has remained steadfast in his belief in his team, though, saying "we've had moments like this before, although not to start a season." While Alguacil is correct in that a team is best judged on an entire season, failure to get a result at the Allianz Riviera means the pressure on him will only increase.
𝑬𝑼𝑹𝑶𝑷𝑨 𝑳𝑬𝑨𝑮𝑼𝑬 mode activated ✅🦅#OGCNRealSociedad 🇪🇺@EuropaLeague pic.twitter.com/vAtrmcmIb1
— OGC Nice 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@ogcnice_eng) September 24, 2024
A familiar face
Alguacil had poor luck against a French side in Europe last year, but he'll hope for better in this competition, and he'll see a familiar face opposite him in the form of Mohamed Ali-Cho, the former SCO Angers winger who played in San Sebastían for a season-and-a-half. For this encounter, Cho -- who was among those on the scoresheet on Friday -- is a doubt, and without long-term absentees Terem Moffi and Gaëtan Laborde, Franck Haise's side will have limited options in attack.
Jérémie Boga has also been ruled out, as has midfielder Morgan Sanson, meaning that the hosts are unlikely to make wholesale changes, lining up once more in Haise's preferred 3-4-3 with summer signing Youssoufa Moukoko leading the line after scoring a brace on Friday. He'll be flanked by Evann Guessand and Badredine Bouanani, the team opting for a youthful attack as they hope to get their European campaign off to a flying start.
Predicted lineups:
OGC Nice (3-4-3): Bulka; Ndayishimiye, Bombito, Dante; Clauss, Rosario, Ndombélé, Bard; Bouanani, Moukoko, Guessand
Real Sociedad (4-3-3): Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Muñoz; Mendez, Zubimendi, Gomez; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrentxea
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