Preview: Nice vs. Basel - prediction, team news, lineups

Zeki Amdouni and Terem Moffi both netted twice in the first leg as the sides drew 2-2.

Match preview

The Nice squad will enter this encounter knowing they are just one home win away from making history.

Nice have never reached the semi-finals of a UEFA competition and now find themselves in a great position to do so, but they are winless in five, having not won since their second leg win over Sheriff Tiraspol in the last 16 of this competition.

The first leg saw them lead thanks to Moffi's sensational overhead kick to claim his second of the evening, but some slack marking allowed Basel to equalise, leaving the tie wide open.

Back-to-back defeats domestically following a draw against lowly Angers means their preparation for the tie has not been ideal.

If anyone is likely to be the difference maker in a Nice shirt, it will surely be Moffi though, as he continues to go from strength to strength in his breakthrough season, with 19 goals in 31 games for Lorient and now Nice.

Meanwhile, Basel are currently enduring their worst domestic campaign in the 21st century, but they could match their best-ever European performance in their history with progression here.

The Swiss giants have only reached the semi-finals of a European competition twice in their history, with the last occasion coming in the 2012-13 Europa League campaign.

However, the club have never won away in France in any of their seven visits in UEFA competitions.

A run of just one win in nine games during regulation time suggests they may struggle too, with extra time and penalties appearing to be their best chance of going through.

Amdouni and Andi Zeqiri continuing their strong form on the continent will be required if they are to make history in this second leg, as the duo have five goals in this season's UECL - only Fiorentina duo Arthur Cabral and Luka Jovic have more.

Nice Europa Conference League form:

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Nice form (all competitions):

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Basel Europa Conference League form:

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Team News

Didier Digard made six changes to his Nice side as they fell to defeat at Brest on Sunday.

Moffi is among those who should come back into the starting XI, along with Gaetan Laborde, Jean-Clair Todibo and Hicham Boudaoui.

A few players were left out altogether with minor knocks at the weekend, but Aaron Ramsey and Youssouf Ndayishimiye could return.

Nicolas Pepe, Youcef Atal and Sofiane Diop are set to remain on the sidelines though for this one.

Basel's Sergio Lopez will be suspended for the trip to France after his booking in the first leg.

Goalkeeper Marwin Hitz missed their draw with Young Boys on Sunday with illness, but should be fine to return after a great performance at St. Jakob-Park last week.

Riccardo Calafiori picked up an injury shortly before the first leg and is expected to miss out, with Fabian Frei and Arnau Comas also still absent.

Nice possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Ndayishimiye, Todibo, Dante, Bard; Rosario, Ramsey, Thuram, Boudaoui; Laborde, Moffi

Basel possible starting lineup:

Hitz; Lang, Adams, Pelmard; Ndoye, Diouf, T Xhaka, Burger, Millar; Amdouni, Zeqiri

We say: Nice 2-1 Basel

Nice have scored in every European fixture this season, but they are still yet to keep a clean sheet at the Riviera on the continent, so a similar scoreline to last week's 2-2 draw could be on the cards.

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