Red Bull Salzburg vs Nice - Mario Balotelli out of Nice's trip to Salzburg

Nice will be without star striker Mario Balotelli for their Europa League trip to Salzburg on Thursday.

Balotelli, who has scored six goals for the club already this season, suffered a knock in training and will be sidelined for the crucial Group I clash.

Both sides go into the game in search of their first point but Nice coach Lucien Favre does not believe Balotelli's absence will hit his team's hopes hard.

Favre told his club's official website: "The media talk about him (Balotelli) because he scores important goals, but he still has a long way to go.

"When he is in form he is very important for the team. But we have already won three or four games without him and we have other good players."

The Ligue 1 leaders suffered defeats to Schalke and Krasnodar and Favre admits they cannot afford a third if they want to retain hopes of advancing to the knockout stages.

He added: "Presumably this is our last chance and it is clear that tomorrow we require a result, otherwise it will be impossible.

"We are very happy with what we have done in the league but in the European Cup we committed great errors and we are disappointed things are not working out yet."

Hosts Salzburg have not won for four games and coach Oscar Garcia is under pressure with his side lying third in the Austrian Bundesliga.

Garcia's hopes have been hit further by a lengthy injury list including Christian Schwegler, Smail Prevljak and Christophe Leitgab (all knee), and Wamberto (thigh).

Garcia admitted his side are up against it if they are to snap their own winless streak against Favre's in-form side.

He told Austrian media: "We are playing against the leaders of the French league - it's clear how tough it will be, and Nice are big favourites.

"It is going to be a challenge for my team. I am really pleased though that we are facing such strong opponents as we can grow and develop further with that."