Nice vs Rangers predictions: Gers can expose injury-hit hosts
- Rangers are unbeaten in their last five Europa League away fixtures
- Nice have not won any of their four Europa League matches this season
- Recommended bet: Rangers or draw double chance
Rangers are 11 points adrift of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership but they are going well in the Europa League and will be keen to increase their seven-point haul when taking on Nice in the south of France.
The halfway point of the League Phase has been reached and 31st-placed Nice have plenty of ground to make up after taking two points from four matches.
Nice have conceded the opening goal in each of their Europa League games and had to come from two behind to snatch a 2-2 draw at home to FC Twente earlier this month.
Rangers are tenth in the 36-team league and remain unbeaten on the road after winning 2-0 against Malmo and drawing 1-1 with Olympiakos.
Team news
Nice are without attacker Sofiane Diop and central defender Moise Bombito due to suspensions. Jonathan Clauss, Ali Abdi, Antoine Mendy, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Morgan Sanson and Terem Moffi remain on the injured list and Youssuf Ndayishimiye is a doubt after suffering an injury while playing for Burundi during the November internationals.
The visitors must cope without injured contingent Neraysho Kasanwirjo, Rabbi Matondo, Tom Lawrence and Oscar Cortes. Right back James Tavernier sat out Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Dundee United but is pushing for a return to the starting eleven.
The stats
- Rangers have scored in each of their four Europa League matches this season
- Two of Rangers’ last three matches have finished 1-1
- Rangers have lost only two of their last ten Europa League fixtures
- Nice have lost ten of their last 13 Europa League games
- The French side have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last eight Europa League matches
- Both teams have scored in seven of Nice’s last nine fixtures
Prediction
Rangers lost more ground in the Scottish Premiership after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Dundee United but they often raise their game for Europa League nights and can avoid defeat against Nice in the south of France.
The Light Blues seem to be better suited to European football where they often have less possession but can utilise their strengths on the counter-attack.
Nice will be under pressure to press forward and end their winless start to the competition but they may expose their makeshift defence which has been severely weakened by injuries.
The French side have not kept a clean sheet in six home matches and a failure to shutout Rangers may leave them struggling to secure maximum points.
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