Soccer. Europa League: Nice must recover against Twente

2024-11-07 07:00:00

After having raised the bar in the championship, Nice, very poorly ranked in the Europa League, must almost imperatively beat Twente to stay in the race for qualification, Thursday (6:45 p.m.) at home, during the 4th day of the league phase.

Failed debut

In three Europa League matches, the Aiglons, 32nd (out of 36), have only one point, far from the presidential objectives of qualifying for the play-offs, which require finishing at least 24th.

However, if the draw against an average team of Real Sociedad (1-1) in the opening then the defeats, logical against Lazio (4-1) in Rome, and pitiful against Ferencvaros (1-0) in Budapest, do not bode well nothing good, the current dynamic of Franck Haise’s team opens up more encouraging prospects.

Nice has indeed just won two important matches in L1 against two teams involved in the Champions League: the first at home against Monaco (2-1) in the Riviera derby, the next in Brest (1-0) on Saturday, after a controlled period and another full of self-sacrifice.

The probable compositions

Nice : Bulka – Abdelmonem, Bombito, Dante (cap) – Mendy, Ndayishimiye, Ndombele (or Camara), Abdi – Diop, Laborde, Moukoko (or Bouanani)

Coach: Franck Haise

FC Twente : El Maach – B. van Rooij, Hilgers, Bruns, Salah-Eddine – Stein (ou Eiting), Regeer, Vlap – Rots, Ltaief – Lammers

Coach: Joseph Oosting

If the Aiglons have been undefeated in the league for two months (September 14 in Marseille, 2-0), or six matches (three wins, three draws), they must aim for victory against Twente, a team hardly better off than OGCN with two points.

The return of the wounded

But the Dutch team also has the means to target three points, as proven by its two 1-1 draws, at Old Trafford against Manchester United (1st day) and during the reception of José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe, before a defeat ( 2-0) against Lazio Rome, who also crushed Nice (4-1).

To overcome the obstacle and achieve their goals, the Azuréens can however count on the gradual return from injury of a few executives.

Those of Gaëtan Laborde, Youssouf Ndayishimiye, Dante and Tanguy Ndombélé, after those of Mohamed-Ali Cho, Melvin Bard and Jérémie Boga, offer greater room for maneuver to the Aiglons.

Calendar noted

On Thursday, only Pablo Rosario, suspended, Hicham Boudaoui, Morgan Sanson and Terem Moffi, still injured, will miss this crucial meeting.

If Nice responds, halfway through the league phase, it will then have to confirm, with a view to qualifying, from November 28, again at the Allianz Riviera, against the ex-coach’s Glasgow Rangers. Monegasque Philippe Clement.

Before two complicated trips, to Brussels to challenge the Union Saint-Gilloise on December 12, then to Elsborg, in Sweden, in the middle of winter, on January 23.

In conclusion, an opposition will then take shape in front of the Nice public against the Norwegians of Bodo/Glimt, on January 30. A final meeting synonymous with qualification?

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**Interview with Football Analyst, Sarah Thompson, on ⁢Nice⁣ vs. Twente Matchup in the⁣ UEFA⁢ Europa League**

**Interviewer:** ⁤Good morning, Sarah! Thanks for joining us today to discuss the upcoming Europa League match between Nice and Twente.

**Sarah Thompson:** ⁢Good morning! I’m excited‌ to ​talk about this‍ crucial game.

**Interviewer:** Nice is currently struggling in the Europa League with only one point from ​three ‌matches. What do they ⁤need to do to⁣ turn their fortunes around?

**Sarah Thompson:** Absolutely, Nice is in‌ a tough spot. To stay in‌ contention for the playoffs, they must secure a win against Twente. Key for ⁢them ‌will be ​to harness the momentum from their recent victories ​in Ligue 1—particularly their impressive win over ⁤Monaco and⁣ a solid performance against Brest. They need ​to translate that energy into their European campaign.

**Interviewer:** ‌They’ve had⁢ a rough debut with a draw against Real⁤ Sociedad and two losses. Do you think the pressure ⁤is​ on coach Franck Haise heading into this game?

**Sarah Thompson:** ⁤Definitely. The pressure is mounting, and the expectations are high. The fans and the management will be looking for a⁢ strong performance at home. Haise⁣ has⁤ to find a way ‌to instill confidence in the players, especially‌ after those initial ‍setbacks. However, their recent form in⁢ domestic matches could ⁣provide a psychological⁤ boost.

**Interviewer:**⁢ Twente ⁤also has their own challenges, but they come into this match with less pressure. How do you think that affects ​their mindset?

**Sarah Thompson:** Twente will likely ‌approach the game with a bit more freedom, knowing ​that Nice is the one under pressure. If​ they can capitalize on Nice’s nervousness, ‍they might be able to ‌exploit defensive gaps. Twente’s coach, Joseph⁢ Oost, will need to ensure⁣ that his players remain‌ disciplined and ready to counter-attack⁢ effectively.

**Interviewer:** Looking at the probable⁢ lineups, who do you think will⁣ be key players for both⁣ teams?

**Sarah Thompson:** For Nice, I’d keep an eye ⁣on players like Ndombele and Moukoko.⁤ If they can create‍ chances and control the midfield, it will be crucial for ⁢Nice’s ⁤success. For Twente, ⁣Lammers could be a‌ game-changer up front; if he ⁢gets the service, he knows how to put the ball in⁣ the net.

**Interviewer:** With the match ⁣scheduled for 6:45 PM, how do you see⁢ this game unfolding?

**Sarah​ Thompson:** If ⁣Nice can start strong and score early, it could set the tone for the rest of the match. They need to​ avoid the pressure of chasing​ the game.‍ However, if Twente can ‌hold firm defensively and counter well, it could ​be a difficult night​ for Nice.⁢ it⁣ promises to be a thrilling encounter!

**Interviewer:** Thank you so much​ for your insights, Sarah! We’ll be‍ looking forward to seeing how ⁣this match plays out.

**Sarah Thompson:** Thank you for ‍having me! It’s going to be an exciting match, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.