RANGERS will this evening square off against Nice in their final UEFA Europa League League Phase away fixture before the end of the calendar year.
The Light Blues are unbeaten away from home in the competition this term, overcoming Malmo in Sweden before earning a creditable point at the home of the UEFA Europa Conference League winners Olympiacos last time out.
Here’s everything you need to know about our French opponents this evening:
HISTORY
Founded in 1904, Nice were established as a club focused on gymnastics and athletics, before transitioning to Football upon the professionalisation of the game in France in 1930.
Since then, the club from the south of the country enjoyed early success in Ligue 1, lifting their first title in 1951 before claiming three more before the end of the decade.
Nice, however, struggled to replicate their success in the 1950s over the coming decades, suffering relegation on several occasions before stunning French football by lifting the Coupe de France in 1997.
The club spent five seasons in Ligue 2 at the turn of the century, returning to the top-flight in the early 2000s and, as recently as 2017, finishing third in the Ligue 1 standings.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Our first dalliance with the side from the French Riviera came all the way back in the mid-1950s when the two teams were paired together in the European Cup.
In a two-legged tie, the Gers prevailed by a one-goal margin at Ibrox, which is most remembered for the referee blowing for full-time five minutes early before subsequently recalling both teams from the dressing rooms to play out the remainder of the match.
The return leg in France, meanwhile, brought chaos both on and off the pitch, with missiles raining down from the stands and both teams reduced to ten men.
There was indeed nothing to separate the sides over the two legs, prompting a replay in Paris two weeks later in which Nice ran out 3-1 victors.
STADIUM
Philippe Clement’s side will run out at the Allianz Riviera this evening, which boasts a capacity of just over 36,000.
It is a stadium with over a decade of history, officially opened in 2013 in a match between Nice and Valenciennes.
Indeed, it was constructed in time to play host to several matches at the European Championships in 2016, including England’s famous defeat to Iceland in the Round of 16.
CURRENT FORM
Nice currently find themselves marooned in fifth place in the Ligue 1 table and have been unable to shake their habit of draws this season.
The side, remarkably, have won as many games as they have drawn, although they did return to winning ways at the weekend with a come-from-behind victory at home to Strasbourg.
Still, only PSG and Marseille have scored more than Nice this campaign, with a remarkable 8-0 victory over Saint-Etienne underlining their attacking prowess.
However, they are still searching for their first victory in the Europa League this term, playing out a pair of draws at home to Real Sociedad and FC Twente to go alongside away defeats at the hands of Lazio and Ferencvaros.
MANAGER
Nice are managed by Franck Haise, who represents one of the most talented coaches in French football and took charge in the south of France over the summer.
Haise is most remembered for his spell in charge at RC Lens, where he guided the side to UEFA Champions League group stage qualification after finishing just a point behind champions PSG in the 2022/23 campaign.
From there, Lens recorded a memorable home victory over Arsenal and pipped Sevilla to third place in a competitive group.
KEY PLAYER
Evann Guessand has been in fantastic form for Nice this campaign and the Ligue 1 outfit will look to the 23-year-old for inspiration in attack.
The Ivorian has netted six times in the league already, registering four goal contributions in his last five appearances.
Elsewhere, Mohamed-Ali Cho is still only 20-years-old and has netted in the Europa League this term, while Nice are bolstered in defence by the experience of former Bayern Munich defender Dante.
-
SHOP: Shop the 2024/25 Home Kit, Away Kit and Third Kit online or at the Rangers Store
-
RANGERSTV: Get closer to your club with RangersTV subscription HERE
-
MYGERS: Enjoy exclusive experiences, discounts and events with a MyGers membership HERE
