French side Nice take on Lokomotiv Moscow in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 32 tie next week, with little separating the duo ahead of kick-off. Both teams qualified for the knockout stage of the competition with relative ease, with many within the game already predicting a close encounter at the Allianz Riviera.
Europa League – Nice v Lokomotiv Moscow, Allianz Riviera, Nice – Thursday 15th February – 18:00 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 23/10 at Unibet |
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Nice
Lokomotiv MoscowMatch Preview
Nice and Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow go head-to-head in the Europa League next week, with both teams hoping to record a positive result ahead of the second leg. The hots have struggled largely throughout the season, while the visitors are currently dominating domestically. For those still unsure of who to back ahead of kick-off, be sure to check out our top betting tip below. However, let’s first take a closer look at the two teams, starting with the home side.
Nice Team News & Form
Nice finished as runners up in their Europa League group despite losing three of their last four matches, with the Ligue 1 side hoping that a good run in the competition can make up for a poor showing in the French top-flight so far. Former Inter Milan and Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is likely to lead the line for the hosts, with the Italian having scored four times in the competition already this season. Meanwhile, fellow attacker Alassane Pléa has the same number of goals to his name in Europe, with the duo set to provide a significant threat to the Lokomotiv Moscow back line. Manager Lucien Favre will be looking for a major response following a disappointing home defeat to Toulouse in Ligue 1.
Lokomotiv Moscow Team News & Form
Lokomotiv Moscow currently sit eight points clear at the top of the Russian Premier League, however the visitors may take some time to get back to their best level following the winter break. The Russian side lost just once in reaching the knockout phase of the competition, scoring nine goals from their six matches. Peruvian striker Jefferson Farfan has four goals to his name already, while former Tottenham Hotspur defender Vedran Corluka should captain the side in France.
Head to Head
The two teams are yet to meet in a competitive fixture, meaning that no conclusions can be made when it comes to the head-to-head record between Nice and Lokomotiv Moscow.
Nice v Lokomotiv Moscow – Betting Odds and Predictions
Given their status as the home team next week, it comes as little surprise that it is Nice who are the favourites for victory with the majority of online bookmakers. The hosts can be backed at best odds of 10/11 with bookmaker William Hill, while a surprise away win for Lokomotiv Moscow is available at 3 on William Hill.
Top Betting Tip Nice v Lokomotiv Moscow
However, our top betting tip for the match is to back under 2.5 goals being scored during the 90 minutes in the South of France, which can be found at odds of 4/6 at Ladbrokes.