Nice vs Real Sociedad Prediction - Europa League Tips

Nice hosts a Real Sociedad side which has had the worst start to a season ever, as Josh Ingram oversees a Nice vs Real Sociedad prediction, team news, and lineups preview. This is The Europa League’s first round of fixtures in the new format. 

It’s a fixture where both sides are lacking a rich history in European competition. They both possess poor records when facing opposition from their respective countries. These two are in complete opposite moods coming into this. Nice comes off the back of an 8-0 win at home to Saint-Etienne, while La Real haven’t scored in four games, failing to win in five. 

• Nice vs Real Sociedad Tip 1: Nice to Win

• Nice vs Real Sociedad Tip 2: Real Sociedad under 0.5 goals
• Nice vs Real Sociedad Tip 3: Youssouf Moukoko to Score Anytime

Nice vs Real Sociedad Prediction 1: Nice to beat a struggling La Real

France, Europa League, Wednesday, Septembre 25th, 17:30 (UK)

Franck Haise is a manager who has proved how good he can be during his time at RC Lens. Four top seven finishes in a row with an impressive 2nd place finish in 2023/24. Going into the game against Saint-Etienne, they had flattered to deceive with four points from four games. In the opening three games, they play against sides that are all in the bottom half. So the 8-0 drubbing they gave to Saint-Etienne on Nice’s 120th anniversary would have got a lot of supporters on the side. 

The combination between the front three of Youssoufa Moukoko, Mohamed-Ali Cho and Evann Guessand, particularly in the first half on Friday, was sensational. The left-back, up against Cho, had a torrid time trying to contain him. This performance showed just what they are capable of in attacking areas when all on song, and it’s devastating. Will they do this every game? Obviously not, but they have shown they have enough to hurt any side. Across their five games, this side has generated a total of 10.8xG, which places them in the top 3 in the league with the third most actual goals scored with 14. 

The team travelling to the Allianz Riviera is Real Sociedad. La Real have had an abysmal start to the season; it’s their worst ever. La Real sit in 16th place with only five points from seven games. Their winless run stretched to five games at the weekend with a 0-0 draw against one of the favourites for relegation, Real Valladolid. To compound La Real’s misery, they have already given away four penalties, the most in La Liga. 

• Nice vs Real Sociedad Prediction 1: Nice to Win (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.40
• Bookmaker: Bet365
• Stake: 6.5/10

Nice vs Real Sociedad Prediction 2: Troubles in front of goal

La Real has shown itself to be a side that struggles in the final third of the pitch this season. A side that likes to dominate the ball and have a large share of possession, but they have been less effective with it this season. A measly three goals in seven games, averaging less than half a goal a game. It’s important to remember that La Real hasn’t been a free-scoring side lately. They only scored 51 goals last season, averaging 1.34 goals per game while finishing sixth.

There are a couple of reasons why they have been struggling so much with their attacking output. The loss of Mikel Merino to Arsenal cannot be understated. In midfield last season, he was La Real’s best for carrying the ball up the pitch. An obvious area in which this is seen is their increased inaccuracy when playing progressive passes, which has decreased by 8%. Their number of passes going directly into the final third is also down to 44 passes per 90. 

The La Real attacking options have yet to pull their weight. When a team has strikers without a goal in seven games, you sometimes don’t need to look much further than that. Club Captain and last year’s top scorer Mikel Oyarzabal has not scored a competitive goal since his winner in the Euro 2024 final. In five games, four starts with a 54-minute average per game, and the only thing he has to show for it is a red card. When your top scorer is misfiring, you need the supporting cast to step up; not one forward has scored this season. Their three goals have all come from midfielders. Brais Mendez, Takefusa Kubo and Martin Zubimendi are the only ones with a goal. 

La Real’s early season numbers are way down compared to last season. This year’s goal conversion rate is down at 4%, which is 7% lower than last year. In all metrics, they are down shots per game, which is below ten a game. The only attacking stat that is up on last year is how many big chances are missed per game, up to 1.3 per 90 from 1.0. 

• Nice vs Real Sociedad Prediction 2: Real Sociedad under 0.5 goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.50
• Bookmaker: Bet365
• Stake: 3/10

Nice vs Real Sociedad Prediction 3: Moukoko to be the magic man

Youssoufa Moukoko had a difficult time for Dortmund last season. This loan is one to help him rediscover his ability to find the net like he did when he was grabbing headlines at 14 for the under-19s at Dortmund. 

The young German was recently given his first start for Nice. In a substitute appearance versus Marseille, he missed a huge opportunity. Frank Hiasse put faith in the youngster for this match and was rewarded handsomely. Moukoko took the opportunity in his stride, grabbing his first goals for his new club with a well-executed brace. 

In his post-match press conference, his new boss, Hiasse, said, “He is a player that is attracted to the goal, and that matters”. The manager likes what he sees from his new striker. After being pestered by injuries in recent times, a run of games starting up top is exactly what he needs. 

Even though he has had limited minutes in recent years, his numbers are impressive. Moukoko’s goals per 90 rate are boosted by how often he came off the bench and would score, but it shows he can find the net when he has a chance. The 20-year-old has only accumulated 27.7 90 minutes in top-flight football. In that time, he has managed to net 19 times. 

The starting attacking trio for Nice worked beautifully together on Friday, and if that continues, Moukoko will have plenty of chances to score goals.

• Nice vs Real Sociedad Prediction 3: Youssouf Moukoko to Score Anytime (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 4.75
• Bookmaker: Bet365
• Stake: 3/10

Nice vs Real Sociedad Prediction odds via bet365 as at 12:00, September 23rd, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Nice vs Real Sociedad Injuries, Team News and Possible Lineups: Injuries for key players for both sides

Nice have a few players out injured. Gaetan Laborde broke his foot after one game and will be out for an extended period. Les Gym will also be without Morgan Sanson, who is still recovering from an ankle injury he had last month. Former Atalanta man Jeremie Boga has a shin issue that keeps him on the sidelines. A relatively unchanged side is expected from their 8-0 battering of Saint-Ettiene. 

Javi Lopez and Brais Méndez returned to training on Friday. Javi López might not be fit enough to start after overcoming issues with his right hamstring and lack of match fitness. Brais Méndez had a recurrence of a fracture to his fifth metatarsal, an injury he sustained at the end of last season. When asked about Méndez’s condition, Imanol said, “We cannot rush things due to the anxiety of wanting everyone available. If he says he feels ready, we will proceed, but there is a risk of relapse, and I am the one holding him back.” It’s unlikely either will feature. La Real will also be without the services of right-back Hamari Traore because a cruciate ligament injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Nice possible starting lineup:
Bulka; Ndayishimiye, Bombito, Dante; Clauss, Rosario, Ndombele, Bard; Cho, Moukoko, Guessand

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, Gomez; Sucic, Zubimendi, Turrientes; Kubo, Becker, Oyarzabal

Match OPTA Stats: First meeting and poor records in Europe.

•  Nice and Real Sociedad will face each other for the first time, this will be Nice’s first time in the competition since 2020/21.
• Nice have lost five of their eight prior European games against Spanish opponents, the last time they beat one was at home versus Espanyol 2-1 in September 1976.
• Real Sociedad, when facing French sides in European competitions, have only won two of their last eight, losing five times.
• Nice have won just one of their last five home group stage games in Europe. 

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