Nice vs Partizan prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-10-26 16:45.
A bottom-half position after 12 Ligue 1 rounds certainly wasn’t the start Nice aspired to, with Sunday’s 1-1 home draw against Nantes meaning they have won just one of their last five league fixtures (D2, L2). Lucien Favre’s side have at least been able to seek solace in this season’s UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL), earning the opportunity to move alongside upcoming opponents Partizan Belgrade at the summit of Group D with a win here.
A home game provides no guarantees for the Eaglets though, who have won only two of their last nine competitive outings at the Allianz Riviera (D3, L4), while their last four European home fixtures group stage have all been fruitless too (D1, L3). Favre may therefore look to adopt a more conservative, defence-focused approach given that Nice have had no troubles finding the net in their previous nine European home group stage matches.
Standing in their way will be a Partizan side who are one of just five clubs still unbeaten in the UECL group stage this term coming into this round (W2, D2), after they dispatched Cologne 3-0 on aggregate across their two previous group outings. The eight-time Serbian champions are also in great domestic form this season (W10, D4, L1), although a frustrating 3-3 home draw to Javor in which they led 3-1 until the 71st minute, ended their seven-game winning run in the Serbian Super League.
Coach Gordan Petrić’s men make this trip to the French Riviera knowing that a draw would be enough to secure knockout football in European competition for only the third time ever if the other game in the group is also drawn, despite this incredibly being the 27th successive season in which the Belgrade club had qualified for Europe! Away points have proved hard to gather on the continental stage though, and despite knowing a win would see them confirmed as group winners, three losses from their last four trips to France (D1) suggests next week’s final group game against Slovácko could be crucial.
Players to watch: Nicolas Pépé arrives on the back of a Ligue 1 penalty goal at the weekend and he has scored the game’s decisive goal in three of his four goalscoring outings this season, including the match winner in Nice’s sole group stage triumph. Meanwhile, Ricardo Gomes has scored four goals across Partizan’s previous four UECL away outings, with three coming after the 60th minute.
Hot streak: Each of Partizan’s four UECL group stage matches this term have seen the opening goal recorded within the first 15 minutes.