OGC Nice began their Europa League campaign with a 2-1 defeat against AS Roma at home on Wednesday, continuing their unfortunate tradition against Italian opposition in European competitions. The French side had previously lost all five encounters against Italian clubs in European tournaments, including a 4-1 defeat to Lazio in Rome last season.

Manager Franck Haise made significant changes to his starting lineup, notably benching key players Terem Moffi and Jonathan Clauss due to disciplinary measures. Both players had arrived late to a team meeting earlier in the week, prompting the coach to relegate them to substitute roles. The decision reflected Haise's emphasis on team discipline and collective values over individual talent.

The match saw Nice display organized but uncreative football for much of the game, with the team maintaining discipline until a critical five-minute lapse early in the second half. During this brief period, AS Roma capitalized on defensive errors to score two decisive goals. Despite showing improved performance afterward, Nice struggled to overcome the deficit created during their momentary loss of concentration.

Substitute Terem Moffi, who had been punished with bench duty, managed to score a penalty in the 77th minute to reduce the margin to 2-1. However, the late rally proved insufficient as Nice failed to find an equalizer. The defeat places additional pressure on the French club as they prepare for their next European fixture against Fenerbahçe in Istanbul on October 2nd, needing to secure points away from home to keep their Europa League hopes alive.