UEL Preview: Nice welcome Roma
After a mixed set of results in the UEFA Champions League for Ligue 1 McDonald's sides, now it's time for the Europa League as OGC Nice start the competition proper by welcoming AS Roma -- read on for our full preview.
A rebound in the offing for Les Aiglons?
To say it's been a tough start to the season for OGC Nice would be an understatement. With just two wins in their seven competitive matches, Les Aiglons are in mid-table in the league and have already been eliminated from the Champions League. Long-term injuries to Moise Bombito and Mohamed Abdelmomem haven't helped matters, but a profligate attack has been equally problematic.
Having scored more than one goal just once, Nice will need to find their shooting boots in Europe, and despite defeat to Brest at the weekend they can take some encouragement from that performance, with Terem Moffi scoring a fine goal. The Nigerian was the team's lynchpin two years ago, but injuries curtailed his season last year and he will need to be firing on all cylinders for a result on Matchday One.
Speaking before the match, manager Franck Haise underscored the importance of putting things in perspective, even if there has been a modicum of frustration, saying, "We're really enjoying this competition. Many French teams would love to be in our shoes, so let's really enjoy this match."
Nous revoilà, et 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔. 🇪🇺#ogcnasr l #uel pic.twitter.com/hADDw1ErHr
— OGC Nice (@ogcnice) September 23, 2025
Familiar faces for i Lupi
AS Roma will come to the Allianz Riviera with a reputation for parsimony, perhaps even at the expense of attacking intent, despite new manager Gian Piero Gasperini's proclivity for attacking play at Atalanta, his previous club. In the club's first four Serie A matches, there has been just one goal scored per match -- three 1-0 wins and a solitary defeat, to Torino.
Speaking pre-match, Gasperini averred that the process of developing a style of play at a new club differs strongly from his long-established career in Bergamo, saying, "We're a team that's trying to build and to develop a different way of playing. We're on our way, but I don't think it's possible to say we're favourites – we must instead focus on growing and playing better. We have try to get points everywhere and think game-by-game."
For this encounter, Gasperini is expected to draw heavily on a squad that features several former Ligue 1 players, including the midfield duo of Neil El Aynaoui (RC Lens) and Manu Koné (Toulouse FC) as well as defender Zeki Celik (LOSC Lille) and forward and captain Stephan El Shaarawy (AS Monaco), likely deployed in a three-man defence to mirror the hosts.
Predicted lineups
OGC Nice (3-4-3): Diouf; Oppong, Bah, Dante; Clauss, Bouadaoui, Vanhoutte, Bard; Diop, Carlos (or Moffi), Boga
AS Roma (3-4-1-2): Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka; Wesley, El Aynaoui, Koné, Tsimikas; El Shaarawy; Soulé, Ferguson
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