Lazio v Nice background

A 3-1 win away to Nice on matchday three has put Lazio in charge of UEFA Europa League Group K, with the Rome club knowing that a second victory in a fortnight against their French opponents will seal their progress to the knockout phase as section winners.

Previous meetings
• The first meeting in Nice brought a goal apiece in the first five minutes, with Lazio's Felipe Caicedo quickly levelling Mario Balotelli's strike for the hosts, before a second-half double from Sergej Milinković-Savić gave the Serie A side their third successive victory in the group while ending Nice's perfect start.

• Nice's only previous exposure to Italian opposition had been a pair of 2-0 defeats by Napoli in this season's UEFA Champions League play-offs.

• Lazio's record in 17 encounters with French teams now reads W7 D4 L6 (W4 D2 L2 in Rome).

Form guide
• Lazio have won six of their last seven European home fixtures, the sole exception a 3-0 defeat by Sparta Praha in the 2015/16 UEFA Europa League round of 16. They beat Zulte Waregem 2-0 in the Stadio Olimpico on matchday two.

• Eliminated by Napoli in this season's UEFA Champions League play-offs, Nice had already made their UEFA Europa League group stage debut in 2016/17 but failed to reach the round of 32. They kicked off this group stage with a 5-1 victory at Zulte Waregem – their biggest ever European away win.

• UEFA Cup runners-up in 1998 (and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winners the following year), Lazio are back in the UEFA Europa League after a one-season absence, having progressed to the last 16 in 2015/16.

• Nice have already played seven UEFA matches this season, which makes it the longest European campaign in the club's history.

Trivia and links
• The journey from Nice to Rome is around 470km.

• The match takes place on Nice coach Lucien Favre's 60th birthday.

• Lazio defender Wallace played in France with Monaco (2014–16).

• Nice defender Dante has completed more passes than any other player in the competition after three matches – 266.

• Nice's Wesley Sneijder played in Italy with Inter from 2009–13, winning the UEFA Champions League – and a domestic double – in his first term.

• Nice's Italian forward Balotelli also played for Inter (2007–10) as well as AC Milan (2013–14 and 2015/16).

• Balotelli and Lazio's Lucas played together at Liverpool (2014–15).

• Suspended for next match if booked: Luis Felipe (Lazio); Balotelli (Nice).

The coaches
• Lazio boss since 2016, Simone Inzaghi represented the club as a forward from 1999–2010, and stayed on to coach the youth teams. He is the younger brother of fellow ex-Italian international Filippo Inzaghi, the pair having initially played together at home-town outfit Piacenza.

• Former Switzerland midfielder Favre has been in charge at Nice since May 2016. He made his name as a coach by capturing back-to-back Swiss titles with Zürich, and subsequently enhanced his reputation with spells in Germany at Hertha Berlin and Borussia Mönchengladbach.