Faced with the need for a great performance after their defeat in the first leg (2-0), the Gym lifted their spirits by defeating Guingamp by the same score. Could Nice pull off an achievement tonight?
This is one of the good news stories coming from Italy this Monday. Dries Mertens, who sustained a foot injury against Verona last weekend, is highly doubtful for the return match at the Allianz. Mertens is the devilish forward who troubled the Nice defenders in the first leg. The Belgian even opened the scoring. If his absence is confirmed, he is expected to be replaced by Milik. And the Polish player, with a totally different profile, could slow down Napoli’s game.
Having lost 2-0 away in the first leg, OGC Nice has a 17% chance of qualifying according to statistics. It’s slim, but it’s possible. Moreover, the rival from Marseille did it in August 2005. Defeated 2-0 in the first leg at La Corogne in the Intertoto Cup, OM won 5-1 at the Vélodrome after an epic match.
THE NICE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Cardinale, Benitez, Clémentia
Defenders: Souquet, Burner, Le Marchand, Sarr, Jallet, Dante
Midfielders: Tamèze, Seri, Lees-Melou, Sneijder, Walter, Marcel
Forwards: Srarfi, St-Maximin, Ganago, Balotelli
THE NAPOLI SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Reina, Rafael, Sepe
Defenders: Albiol, Chiriches, Ghoulam, Hysaj, Koulibaly, Maksimovic, Mai, Mario Rui
Midfielders: Jorginho, Allan, Diawara, Hamsik, Rog, Zielinski, Giaccherini, Callejon, Ounas
Forwards: Insigne, Mertens, Milik
THE REFEREE
At the center of the action, UEFA has appointed Damir Skomina, who officiated the Europa League final between Manchester and Ajax Amsterdam last May. He will be assisted by Jure Praprotnik and Robert Vukan.
