Nice have done the majority of their best work at home this season. They are yet to lose at the Allianz Riviera this term, avoiding defeat in each of their eight matches across all competitions so far. That eight-game sample includes home games with the likes of PSG, Monaco and Lille.

While Rangers won away from home against Malmo and picked up a point at Olympiakos, their road record in this competition doesn’t make for great reading in recent years. In fact, the Light Blues have won just three of their last 16 Europa League assignments away from Ibrox.

Furthermore, Rangers have also crashed to defeat in each of their last two Scottish Premiership away games at both Kilmarnock and Aberdeen respectively. Thus, Nice look well placed to secure what would be their first Europa League success of the season.

Look to Robin Propper to commit a minimum of one foul against Nice on Thursday night. The Dutch defender has been a regular on the referee’s radar since joining Rangers back in the summer. The 31-year-old has given away at least one free kick in each of Rangers’ four Europa League games this season, racking up a combined total of six misdemeanours in the process. Propper has also fallen foul of the referee in six of his eight appearances for Rangers in this season’s Scottish Premiership.

He averaged a shade under one foul per game in the Eredivisie with Twente last term, clocking up nine yellow cards across all competitions. Propper will have a real physical battle on his hands on Thursday night, as he is expected to come up against Evann Guessand. The Nice forward is drawing an average of 2.08 fouls per game in Ligue 1 this season.

Nicolas Raskin has been a frequent offender when featuring for Rangers this season. The combative Belgian midfielder has averaged a team-high 2.50 fouls per game in this season’s Europa League. Raskin was guilty of three offences at home to FCSB before committing five fouls and collecting a yellow card away at Olympiakos on matchday four.

The 23-year-old has also got on the wrong side of the referee twice or more in two of his last five starts for Rangers in this season’s Scottish Premiership. Thus, Raskin looks a strong contender to give away two or more free kicks in France on Thursday night.

In direct opposition to Raskin at the Allianz Riviera is likely to be Hicham Boudaoui. The Nice midfielder has drawn an average of 1.88 fouls per 90 in Ligue 1 this season.

Jeremie Boga has arguably been Nice’s standout performer in this season’s Europa League. Despite only starting once, the Ivory Coast international has scored in two of his three appearances in Europe this season. He has averaged one shot on target per game across his three outings thus far, and he looks well placed to register another on-target effort against Rangers on matchday four.

While Boga is yet to make the net bulge for Nice in Ligue 1 this season, it’s not been for the want of trying. The 27-year-old winger has averaged a team-high 1.11 shots on target per 90 in the French top-flight this term.

Rangers gave up eight on-target efforts when they took on Lyon on matchday two, and goalkeeper Jack Butland could be set for another busy night against French opposition this midweek.

The aforementioned Jeremie Boga looks like a great value option to either score or assist on Thursday night. The Nice winger notched away from home against Lazio and he has since grabbed a goal against Twente. While Boga has not been able to replicate that form in Ligue 1 this season, he was one of Nice’s chief tormentors last term, scoring six goals and providing six assists.

Boga’s dribbling skills and turn of pace are likely to be a key weapon in Nice’s attacking armoury on Thursday night. While Rangers kept clean sheets against both Malmo and FCSB, their defensive shortcomings were clear to see against Lyon and to a lesser extent when facing Olympiakos, something Boga could well capitalise on.

Cyriel Dessers scored his first Europa League goal of the season for Rangers away at Olympiakos earlier this month. Not only did the Light Blues striker bag a goal in Greece, but he also registered a further two on-target attempts. Closer to home, Dessers has averaged 0.92 shots on target per game in this season’s Scottish Premiership.

While the Nigerian forward was a much-maligned figure throughout last season, he did finish the campaign with a very healthy return of 22 goals, and he remains one of Rangers’ biggest goal threats. As such, Dessers merits support to hit the target at least once on Thursday night. He will be coming up against a Nice team that have shipped eight goals across their opening four league phase fixtures.

While Cyriel Dessers blows hot and cold in front of goal for Rangers, that’s not the case when it comes to committing fouls. The 29-year-old has a real habit of throwing his weight around and overstepping the mark.

He has committed a foul in each of Rangers’ opening four league phase assignments, giving away multiple free kicks in his previous three appearances. On top of this, Dessers has been reprimanded by the referee twice or more in four of his last seven outings in the Scottish top-flight.

The Rangers striker is expected to be in direct battle with veteran defender Dante on Thursday night, who was fouled twice during Nice’s 2-2 draw with FC Twente.

Given Nice’s greater need for three points on Thursday night, the home team look worth siding with to earn five or more corners. Franck Haise’s side hit exactly five corners in their home game with Real Sociedad and they went one better when playing host to FC Twente. It’s also worth noting that Nice racked up five flag-kicks away from home against Ferencvaros .

While Nice are averaging a shade under five corners per-game in Ligue 1 this season, they did manage to cover the 5+ line in their respective home games with heavyweight duo PSG and Monaco.

Malmo earned five corners against Rangers on matchday one. Given the lay of the land in the Europa League at the moment, there is plenty of scope for Nice to follow suit on Thursday night.