Le Gym are playing for their European future in their Conference League play-off second leg against Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Allianz Riviera this Thursday. It's a double-header that Les Aiglons will have to win in order to advance. Here are five things you need to know ahead of the big game.

Away goals: what is the rule?

Since the summer of 2021, UEFA has abolished the away-goal rule, which favours the away team. As a result, only the final goal difference between two opponents determines the final result.

To take a concrete example: Gym lost (1-0) in Tel Aviv in the first leg of the play-off. To reach the C4 groups, they will have to win. If they do so by a two-goal margin, their ticket will be punched, regardless of the score (2-0, 3-1, 4-2, etc.).

If they win by one goal at the end of the 90 minutes (1-0, 2-1, 3-2...), the two teams will go into extra time (two 15-minute halves).

If the gap is still one goal at the end of the extra time, Nice's immediate European future will be decided in a penalty shoot-out.

Goal-line, vAR… ?

This Thursday, the "Goal Line Technology" will be active at the Allianz Riviera, in order to help the trio of German referees who will be in charge of the match. As a reminder, this technology makes it possible to check whether the ball has completely crossed the goal line or not.

However, there will be no video-assisted refereeing in the second leg of the play-off.

WHAT'S THE FORM AT THE ALLIANZ RIVIERA?

The match against Maccabi will be OGC Nice's 13th European match at the Allianz Riviera since it was inaugurated in 2013. This figure includes the Europa League group-stage matches (Schalke 04, Red Bull Salzburg, Krasnodar, Zulte Waregem, Vitesse Arnhem, Lazio Rome, Slavia Prague, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, Bayer Leverkusen), the Champions League against Ajax, the Champions League play-off against Napoli, as well as the Europa League round of 16 against Lokomotiv Moscow.

With the 2020-21 season played behind closed doors due to the pandemic, you have to go back to 15 February 2018 to see Gym fans packing the Allianz for a European match. In this case: a Europa League round of 16 loss to Lokomotiv Moscow (2-3).

A precedent?

Le Gym have only hosted an Israeli club once in their continental history: during their last Europa League campaign. It was on 29 October 2020 that they beat Hapoel Beer-Sheva by the narrowest of margins (1-0), thanks to a cross from Youcef Atal that was perfectly met by Amine Gouiri.

WHAT NEXT?

If they qualify, OGC Nice will take part in the draw for the group stage, which takes place this Friday. The winners of the matches below will be drawn, along with ten teams eliminated from the Europa League play-offs.

FC Bâle (Sui) vs CSKA Sofia (Bul) (0-1)

APOEL Nicosie (Chy) vs Djurgårdens IF (Suè) (0-3)

Royal Antwerp (Bel) vs İstanbul Başakşehir FK (Tur) (1-1)

FC Twente (P-B) vs Fiorentina ACF (Ita) (1-2)

Rapid Vienne (Aut) vs FC Vaduz (Lie) (1-1)

Viking FK (Nor) vs FC Steaua Bucarest (Rou) (2-1)

HNK Hajduk Split (Cro) vs Villareal CF (Esp) (2-4)

Slavia Prague (RTC) vs Raków Częstochowa (Pol) (1-2)

Hapoël Beer-Sheva (Isr) vs Universitatea Craiova (Rou) (1-1)

Hamrun Spartans FC (Mal) vs Partizan Belgrade (Ser) (1-4)

MOL Fehérvár FC (Hon) vs Cologne FC (All) (2-1)

Viborg FF (Dan) vs West Ham United (Ang) (1-3)

RSC Anderlecht (Bel) vs BSC Young Boys (Sui) (1-0)

AIK Solna (Suè) vs FC Slovácko (Rtc) (0-3)

Wolfsberger AC (Aut) vs Molde FK (Nor) (1-0)

Gil Vicente (Por) vs AZ Alkmaar (P-B) (0-4)

CFR Cluj (Rou) vs NK Maribor (Slv) (0-0)

Linfield FC (Irn) vs FK RFS (Let) (2-2)

F91 Dudelange (Lux) vs Lech Poznań (Pol) (0-2)

KF Ballkani (Kos) vs KF Shkupi (Mcn) (2-1)

Slovan Bratislava (Svq) vs HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (Bos) (0-1)

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