Schalke v Nice background
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Article summary
Schalke have conceded just once in winning their opening four Group I games to confirm a round of 32 spot, and while Nice have had a harder time, they still have hope of progress.
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Schalke have already finessed their way to the UEFA Europa League round of 32, with Nice likely to need two more Group I wins – and a bit of luck – to join them.
• Schalke have clinched the group as they beat second-placed Krasnodar twice; to stay in contention, Nice must win or draw provided Krasnodar do not themselves win.
• Krasnodar are through if they pick up more points than Nice on the night; Salzburg need a victory to maintain their qualification hopes.
Previous meetings
• Abdul Baba Rahman scored the only goal as Schalke won 1-0 in France when the sides met for the first time on matchday one. It was Nice's first UEFA Cup or UEFA Europa League home defeat.
• Schalke's record in eight encounters with French teams reads W4 D2 L2 (W3 D1 at home).
• Nice's record in five matches against German opposition is W1 D1 L3; they have lost both previous away games in Germany without scoring.
Form guide
• Schalke, Shakhtar and Zenit are the only sides who have won all four of their opening fixtures.
• Schalke have the best defensive record in the group stage with just one goal conceded so far.
• Schalke have not lost in 16 group stage matches (W12 D4) since the advent of the UEFA Europa League.
• The 2-0 defeat by Salzburg on matchday four was the heaviest home loss in Nice's European history.
• This season's qualification means Schalke have made it through four of their five UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League group stage campaigns.
• This is Nice's first UEFA group stage foray.
Links and trivia
• Gelsenkirchen is around 900km due north of Nice.
• Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of Schalke's next goal will be his 50th in UEFA club competition.
• Schalke's Nabil Bentaleb turns 22 on the day of the game.
The coaches
• New Schalke coach Markus Weinzierl made it to last season's UEFA Europa League round of 32 with Augsburg, whom he had led since 2012. His playing career peaked when he spent a season with the first-team squad at Bayern München in 1998/99, though he never played a senior game.
• Lucien Favre took charge of Nice this summer. Twice a title winner with Zürich in his native Switzerland, he made a positive impression in Germany with Hertha Berlin and Mönchengladbach. He was capped 24 times as a midfielder.