OGC Nice travels tonight (7:00 PM) to the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen to face Schalke 04. The match seems like an insurmountable challenge, but the Eagles are on a good run.
The victory in Saint-Étienne (0-1) last Sunday night was a mental boost. Before facing Schalke 04, the Eagles have filled up with confidence and lifted their spirits. “Schalke is our last chance,” warns Alassane Plea. “We need a win to hope for anything. If we don’t win, the Europa League ends here. If we get a draw, it’s the same.” Therefore, the Eagles arrive with a conquering mindset, a good omen ahead of the challenging match to come.
The Opponent
The German club is by far the most formidable opponent in the group. Fifth in the last Bundesliga, the North Rhine club is a regular on the European stage, alternating between the Champions League (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015) and the Europa League (2012, 2016). Last year, Schalke was eliminated in the Round of 32 by Shakhtar Donetsk.
The seven-time German champion has already won a European competition: it was the UEFA Cup in 1997. Their most recent title dates back to 2011 with a victory in the German Super Cup.
On the field, the German club can rely on their forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, their captain Benedikt Höwedes, and on Benjamin Stambouli, who transferred this summer from Paris Saint-Germain.
The Absentees
On the Nice side, Paul Baysse and Mario Balotelli are still injured and absent. They add to the prolonged absences of Maxime Le Marchand, Mickaël Le Bihan, and Gautier Lloris (injured), who are still to be missed.
The Nice Squad
Goalkeepers: Cardinale, Benitez.
Defenders: Souquet, Ricardo, Boscagli, Dalbert, Dante, Sarr, Burner.
Midfielders: Seri, Lusamba, Walter, Bodmer, Cyprien, Koziello, Marcel.
Forwards: Belhanda, Eysseric, Plea, Donis.
The Referee
The match referee will be Aliyar Aghayev, assisted on the sidelines by Zeynal Zeynalov and Rza Mammadov.
