Nice vs Schalke 04 – UEFA Europa League – Preview

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Sreya

Nice vs Schalke 04 – Nice host Schalke 04 at Stade Nice on 15th September, Thursday in their inaugural Group I fixture of the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League campaign. The Ligue 1 club finished in the fourth position in domestic standings last season, courtesy which they qualified for Europe this season. Schalke 04 came fifth in a closely contested Bundesliga season.

Nice are coming into this match on the back of a 3-2 win over Marseille this past Sunday. The travelling side Schalke were beaten by Bayern Munich last week but have had a longer rest period.

Team News

Mickael Le Bihan, Maxime Le Marchand, Walter Benitez and Gautier Lloris are sidelined through injuries while Mathieu Bodmer is doubtful. Schalke 04 will be without Fabian Giefer, Astuto Uchida, Coke and Donis Avdijaj.

Nice Possible Starting Lineup: Yoan Cardinale, Paul Baysse, Dante, Malang Sarr, Ricardo Perreira, Vincent Koziello, Wylan Cyprien, Jean Michael Seri, Dalbert, Alassane Plea, Mario Balotelli.

Schalke 04 Possible Starting Lineup: Ralf Fahrmann, Benedikt Howedes, Naldo, Matija Nastasic, Abdul Rehman Baba, Nabil Bentaleb, Johannes Geis, Breel Embolo, Leon Goretzka, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

“It will be a difficult task. Our opponents are in good form, so we have to put in the best possible performance.”

– Markus Weinzierl, Schalke 04.

According to Nice vs Schalke 04 H2H stats, these two clubs have never faced each other in a competitive fixture before today. Nice are unbeaten in thirteen UEFA home games (with ten wins and three draws), a run stretching back to a 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the 1956/57 European Cup. Schalke, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last six European away games.

Nice will be looking towards their new signing Mario Balotelli for his offensive exploits and the mercurial forward did deliver on his league debut this past weekend. Schalke 04 could hand Max Meyer a start but their main goal-scoring responsibility lies on Huntelaar.

A 2-2 draw is the most likely outcome.