Nice VS RB Salzburg Match Prediction

Nice picked up their first points of this year's Europa League campaign against Salzburg on MD3. Alassane Plea scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for the visitors in what was their first ever match against a team from Austria.

That was Nice's first ever genuine away victory in European competition and will have given them a massive confidence boost, which should be taken into account for Nice v RB Salzburg betting tips. Salzburg lost 3-1 away and won 2-0 at home when they last played Ligue 1 opposition in Europe, those games coming against the current French champions Paris Saint-Germain in the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League group stage.
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Nice vs RB Salzburg Prediction

Salzburg are one of just two teams - the other being Qabala - to have zero points at the halfway stage of the Europa League group stage. It is therefore hard to imagine them getting anything from a game against high-flying Nice, who are one of the form teams in Europe and won in Austria on MD3 just a couple of weeks ago. 

Lucien Favre's men do not seem to be taking the Europa League particularly seriously, but qualification remains within their grasp if they win here and they should be able to claim the points.

Nice vs RB Salzburg Betting Tips

Odds of 10/11 for Nice to beat Salzburg look to be very generous considering they proved just a fortnight ago that they could triumph against their Austrian opponents. With Salzburg losing six of their last seven Europa League games, their price of 3/1 is not appealing, nor is 13/5 for the draw.

As Salzburg have been losing at both half-time and full-time in their last three Europa League matches, the HT/FT market is worth a look here and Nice to lead at half-time and full-time, which can be backed at 2/1, could be a very good pick. A repeat of the 1-0 scoreline when the teams met two weeks ago is also tempting at a big price of 7/1.

A run of five wins in a row has given Nice a five-point lead at the top of Ligue 1, but their European form has been more disappointing, with just three points on the board at the halfway stage of the Europa League's group phase. A 4-1 home win over Nantes at the weekend was ideal preparation for this match, with Wylan Cyprien scoring a brace, but all eyes will be on Mario Balotelli to see if he can continue his fine start to the season.

Nice likely XI:

With six losses in their last seven Europa League games, RB Salzburg find themselves bottom of Group I after three matches and are yet to even pick up a single point in the competition. Their domestic form is much better, however, with three wins in a row establishing some momentum coming into Thursday's tie. 

At the weekend they had a 1-0 home win over Ried in the Austrian Bundesliga, with the only goal of the game scored by Hee-Chan Hwang late in the first half.

RB Salzburg likely XI:

Salzburg are on the brink of elimination and the Austrians may well have given up on making it through to the next round of the Europa League. Despite losing their first two group games, Nice can still qualify and having won in Salzburg on MD3 they know they have the better of their opponents on Thursday. This should be a relatively easy home win for Nice.

Salzburg have been losing at both half-time and full-time in their last three Europa League matches.