As the domestic football season gets into its busy winter schedule, the UEFA Europa League is heating up as we are starting to find out which sides will be progressing to the knockout stage. At the halfway point in Group K, the two teams in the qualifying positions face for the second time and the winner will go top. Lazio are currently top with nine points from their three fixtures while Nice have six, their only loss coming against the Italians. As they share the same goal difference, Nice can leapfrog Lazio with a win while the group leaders can secure qualification with three points.

STATS

• Lazio have had a strong start to the campaign both in Italy and in Europe. They occupy fourth place in Serie A, just three points behind Napoli at the top while they are favourites to make the knockout stage in Group K. They are averaging almost three goals a game in the Europa League with eight goals from three. They comfortably eased past Nice in their last European game with a 3-1 away win.
• Nice have struggled to replicate the form that saw them qualify for the Europa League last term and are currently lingering outside the relegation zone on goal difference in Ligue 1. With two wins from three in the Europa League, they look as though they will qualify but their league form has suffered as a result.
• With 16 goals and six assists across all competitions this season, Ciro Immobile is one of Europe’s hottest strikers and will be looking to add to his tally of two so far in the Europa League.
• Mario Balotelli is Nice’s top goal scorer in the league but it’s Alassane Plea who is leading the way for the French side in Europe with four goals, only one player in the competition has more.

HEAD TO HEAD

Lazio and Nice have only faced off once in European competition once in the past and that was in this season’s group stage. Lazio picked up an important 3-1 away win, which saw them go top of the group. A fourth-minute Balotelli goal was then cancelled out by Felipe Caicedo before a brace from Sergej Milinković-Savic wrapped up the win for the visitors.

Head to head matches: Lazio Roma - OGC Nice

19.10.2017

UEFA

OGC Nice

Lazio Roma

1:3

LAZIO NEWS

A win for Lazio would secure their qualification to the next round while a loss would see them be overtaken by their opponents. They are without Felipe Anderson for the clash as well as Wallace and Davide De Gennaro. One huge doubt is Immobile, which would be a massive loss.

Latest matches: Lazio Roma

29.10.2017	Seri	Benevento Calcio	Lazio Roma	1:5	W
25.10.2017	Seri	Bologna FC	Lazio Roma	1:2	W
22.10.2017	Seri	Lazio Roma	Cagliari Calcio	3:0	W
19.10.2017	UEFA	OGC Nice	Lazio Roma	1:3	W
14.10.2017	Seri	Juventus Turin	Lazio Roma	1:2	W

NICE NEWS

Three points for Nice would see them control Group K with two remaining games. They can’t qualify in this match but they can put themselves in a brilliant position. They are without the midfield power of Jean-Michael Seri and Wylian Cyprien so they may struggle to get a foothold in the match.

Latest matches: OGC Nice

27.10.2017	Ligu	Paris St Germain	OGC Nice	3:0	L
22.10.2017	Ligu	OGC Nice	Racing Strasbourg	1:2	L
19.10.2017	UEFA	OGC Nice	Lazio Roma	1:3	L
15.10.2017	Ligu	Montpellier HSC	OGC Nice	2:0	L
01.10.2017	Ligu	OGC Nice	Olympique Marseille	2:4	L

SUMMARY

After a shocking start to the Ligue 1 campaign, it will be hard for Nice to generate any momentum going into the match and it certainly is Lazio’s match to lose on their own turf. However, if Immobile and Anderson are ruled out for the fixture, they could struggle to produce goals. The Italians should still have too much quality for Nice and it should be a comfortable win.