Nice v Real Sociedad: Prediction, Tips and Odds

UEFA Europa League football returns to the Allianz Riviera for the first time in four years as Nice make their comeback in the competition against Real Sociedad on Wednesday evening.

And Franck Haise's men could hardly be in better form for the contest after thrashing Saint-Etienne 8-0 on their patch last time out.

The previous pitch at Nice’s ground had been worn and patchy for their first home game of the season - a 1-1 draw with Toulouse - but Les Aiglons were able to move the ball around very well on the relaid surface last Friday.

Meanwhile, Sociedad step down to the UEFA Europa League after reaching the UEFA Champions League round of 16 last season.

Imanol Alguacil’s side, who have won only one of their seven La Liga games, still appear to be adapting to the loss of key men Robin Le Normand and Mikel Merino in the summer.

Nice v Real Sociedad betting tips and predictions

Real Sociedad Draw No Bet - 6/5

Sociedad have been struggling to get goals and win games in the first month and a half of the campaign, but things may finally be falling into place.

After being on the wrong side of the expected goals (xG) battle for their previous five games, the Basque outfit created a higher quality of scoring opportunity than their opponents for the first time this season when they drew 0-0 with Real Valladolid.

That does not mean to say it was a good result as Valladolid are one place below them in the table and one place above the relegation zone, but it felt like a step in the right direction.

And, while Sociedad are clearly not clicking in attack, they have managed to keep three clean sheets in their first seven games of the campaign.

That defensive record could be the platform for Alguacil’s team to sneak a 1-0 road win in Nice.

Les Aiglons thrashed lowly Saint-Etienne last time out, but the visitors were so bad that the scoreline might be irrelevant to how this game pans out.

Haise’s men will face a much sterner test from a side who are also well-versed in how to handle an away game in European competitions.

Sociedad won their UEFA Champions League group games at Salzburg (2-0) and Benfica (1-0) before claiming a goalless draw at the San Siro against Inter Milan last season.

Under 1.5 Goals - 13/8

Given how well Sociedad shut up shop in those three group matches last season, it is hard to imagine them being blown away like Saint-Etienne were last Friday.

The La Liga side have not scored in four consecutive games, however, so it might take a leap of faith for some to back them to win in France.

Fewer than three goals have been scored in five of their last six matches and fewer than two goals have been registered in four of them.

So there appears to be a decent chance that this contest ends up being a touch on the low-scoring side.

Nice struck eight times in their last match and scored four at Angers earlier this season, but those clubs currently occupy the bottom two places in Ligue 1.

Against stronger opposition, Haise’s team have managed to score only two goals in three games.

Take a chance on this match unfolding along the lines of Sociedad’s UEFA Champions League games last season when goals were few and far between. 

Over 9 corners - 6/4

Nice matches have not been filled with corners this season, but Sociedad’s games have.

Perhaps as a consequence of their La Liga games being tight and low-scoring, the Basques have taken the most corners and allowed the third-highest number so far this season.

There has been an average of over 11 corners per game when Sociedad have been in action, while for Nice it is only around seven corners per match this term.

The market is not expecting this to go into double figures, with over nine corners available at a tempting 6/4.

Nice v Real Sociedad odds

Nice - 7/5
Draw - 2/1
Real Sociedad - 23/10

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.