Porto have the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways in the Europa League as they welcome struggling Nice to Estadio do Dragao on Thursday.
The Blue and Whites are currently 14th in the 36-team table after collecting seven points from their opening four fixtures, while Les Gym are second from bottom, standing as one of just two teams yet to record a point in the campaign.
Read our Porto vs Nice prediction and preview to find out more, and remember to check our other Europa League tips.
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Porto vs Nice prediction: Hosts to reign supreme
Key stats:
- Nice have conceded at least one first-half goal in their last three Europa outings.
- Porto have won 14 of their 17 games across all competitions this season (D2, L1).
- Nice have lost each of their last four games across all competitions, while managing to find the net in the most recent three.
- Porto have taken a lead into the interval in five of their seven home games this season.
Correct score prediction: Porto 3-1 Nice
Nice have rarely struggled to find the net this season, as reflected in their league phase results, where they have scored exactly once in each of those four games, while the same has been seen in three of their four losses heading into this encounter.
A similar outcome is expected against a Porto side that has won six of their seven home games this season, though we cannot hide the fact that Francesco Farioli’s team have been watertight in defence, with 11 clean sheets in their 17 outings.
Pre-match analysis: Hosts tipped as strong favourites
- HOME: 2/5 (1.40) – 71.4%
- DRAW: 19/5 (4.80) – 20.8%
- AWAY: 6/1 (7.00) – 14.3%
*Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes; subject to change*
The superiority resulting from their form this season is reflected in the above odds, with Porto handed a hefty 71.4% win probability, which is about five times the likelihood of Nice taking full spoils at 14.3%. This means anything other than a home victory would be viewed as an upset, while a modest 20.8% possibility of a draw further reinforces that impression.
Our hot tip of both teams to score at 2.05% appears a valuable pick when taking into consideration Nice’s knack for both finding the net and conceding.
Most recent head-to-head: First time meeting
This will be the first-ever meeting between the sides, although Nice recently experienced facing Portuguese opposition, having suffered home and away defeat to Benfica in the Champions League qualifiers in August.
Porto preview: Boosted by key returnees
Porto enter Thursday’s encounter following a 3-0 victory over lower-league minnows Sintrense, in a match where first-choice goalkeeper Diogo Costa was rested, although the 26-year-old is expected to return here.
Nehuen Perez appears to be the Dragons’s only confirmed absentee for this encounter following news that Jan Bednarek and Victor Froholdt – both of whom missed the previous match due to fitness issues – could feature on Thursday, while Luuk de Jong is also available after making a short cameo on his return from a knee injury.
Predicted XI: D. Costa (GK), A. Costa, Bednarek, Kiwior, Moura, Eustaquio, Rosario, Veiga, Sainz, Aghehowa & Pepe
Porto’s last five results:
- 22/11/25: Porto 3-0 Sintrense (W)
- 09/11/25: Famalicao 0-1 Porto (W)
- 06/11/25: Utrecht 1-1 Porto (D)
- 02/11/25: Porto 2-1 Braga (W)
- 27/10/25: Moreirense 1-2 Porto (W)
Nice preview: Key attacker doubtful amid defensive absentees
Franck Haise’s side suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Marseille over the weekend, with Sofiane Diop’s premature exit due to injury adding further baggage to an already disappointing outing.
The latest addition to an already sizeable injury list, Diop is doubtful for Thursday, while defenders Youssouf Ndayishimiye, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Moise Bombito and Dante remain sidelined with fitness issues.
Predicted XI: Diouf (GK), Mendy, Bah, Bard, Clauss, Sanson, Vanhoutte, Abdi, Boga, Carlos & Cho
Nice’s last five results:
- 21/11/25: Nice 1-5 Marseille (L)
- 09/11/25: Metz 2-1 Nice (L)
- 06/11/25: Nice 1-3 Freiburg (L)
- 01/11/25: PSG 1-0 Nice (L)
- 29/10/25: Nice 2-0 Lille (W)
Player to watch: Borja Sainz
Borja Sainz has scored in three of his last four appearances for Porto, including the opener against Sintrense at the weekend and the equaliser against Utrecht in the Dragons’s most recent Europa outing.
The 24-year-old winger will aim for another impactful display at the Dragao on Thursday after scoring in consecutive home matches.