Ferencvaros vs Nice: Europa League Preview, Predictions, and Team News
On Thursday, Nice, winless in their last five games, travel to the Hungarian capital to face Ferencvaros in the Europa League. After a dominant win over Saint-Etienne last month, Nice have struggled to regain momentum and are still seeking their first European win this season.
Match Preview
Ferencvaros head into this fixture hoping to reverse their recent poor form in European competitions. Two consecutive defeats in this Europa League campaign, to Anderlecht and Tottenham Hotspur, have extended their winless streak in Europe to five matches, including four straight losses in the Europa League. Both losses have followed a similar pattern, with Ferencvaros conceding early and only scoring consolation goals late in the game.
Domestically, Ferencvaros have had a strong start to the season, sitting at the top of the Hungarian league after a 2-0 win over Fehervar last weekend. However, their European performances will need to improve if they are to keep their hopes alive in this competition. Encouragingly, their last encounters with French opposition saw them take four points off Monaco in the 2022-23 Europa League group stage.
Nice, on the other hand, are also struggling on the European front. They have lost 13 of their last 15 away matches in the Europa League and are on a seven-match losing streak away from home in the competition. Their most recent European away win came back in 2017. Despite this poor form in Europe, no French team has lost to a Hungarian side in over 23 years, with several French clubs winning on Hungarian soil in recent times.
Nice’s domestic form has also been inconsistent, with the French side enduring a five-match winless run. However, their recent fixtures have been against tough opponents, with draws against Lens and Paris Saint-Germain providing some positives. Despite this, a 4-1 loss to Lazio in the Europa League marked a low point, as the defeat hit their goal difference and standings in the group.
Team News
Ferencvaros:
- Defender Raul Gustavo remains doubtful after missing the last two matches, while Cristian Ramirez is expected to return to the starting lineup after being rested last weekend.
- Striker Barnabas Varga, who scored against Spurs, is likely to start after being rested in their previous league match.
- Tosin Kehinde, not part of Ferencvaros’ Europa League squad, will be unavailable following his red card in domestic competition.
Nice:
- Mohamed-Ali Cho is sidelined again after recently returning from injury and missed the 0-0 draw against Nantes.
- Youssouf Ndayishimiye and Tanguy Ndombele are doubtful, while Melvin Bard and Morgan Sanson have been ruled out.
- Striker Terem Moffi is still absent, and Youssoufa Moukoko or Gaetan Laborde will likely lead the attack.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Ferencvaros:
Dibusz; Makreckis, Cisse, Gartenmann, Ramirez; Abu Fani, Maiga; Traore, Saldanha, Kady Borges; Varga
Nice:
Bulka; Clauss, Mendy, Bombito, Dante, Abdi; Rosario, Boudaoui; Guessand, Moukoko, Boga
Prediction
Nice’s poor form on the road in Europe, combined with Ferencvaros’ solid performances at home, makes this a tough challenge for the French side. While Ferencvaros have yet to register a win in this campaign, they showed resilience against Spurs and could pose problems for Nice. This match is likely to be closely contested, with Ferencvaros capable of pulling off a surprise.
