Cologne vs Nice Predictions

• Cologne failed to win five of their last seven competitive matches.
• Nice are unbeaten in six of their last seven matches.
• Nice must simply avoid defeat to guarantee qualification to the knockout phase.

It’s do or die for Cologne’s European dream

Nothing but victory can see Cologne progress from this hard-fought group in which just a single point separates the top-three sides. However, a run of just two wins from their last seven games hardly inspires confidence amongst the Billy Goats faithful.

With only three wins across the last eight competitive home games, Cologne have often fallen foul of slow starts with 11 goals conceded before half-time across their last nine games held at any venue.

The reverse fixture was a fiery affair that descended into chaos with fans clashing in the stadium and many injured in the aftermath, although the French side came from behind to draw that game and will hope for a stronger start themselves this time around.

Back Nice to grab the decisive point

A run of six unbeaten games across the last seven has helped Nice climb into the top-half of the Ligue 1 table whilst putting themselves in pole position in the group. Victory will ensure that they qualify directly for the round of 16, yet that could be a tough ask in what may be a hostile environment.

Nice have never won a UEFA group stage in club history, but with Lucien Favre previously helping them to the Europa League knockout phase back in 2017/18, they could record a little piece of history here.

Confidence will be high in the Nice camp, not least because they’re unbeaten in both of their away group games in this campaign. We’re backing the Eaglets to come up trumps with a double chance selection, although we’re going for a hard-fought 1-1 draw for small stakes in the correct score market.