​22 days, 7 matches. The return of L1 and the start of the Europa League: things are going to step up a notch for Les Aiglons between the end of October and the start of November. "I hope that it’s the start of a cycle where, each year, we will play every three days”, President Rivère commented ambitiously following the draw for the Europa League group stage. Before we get started with this grueling fixture list, here it’s is broken down.

Away trips, home matches: Everything is doubled

Throughout the period, Patrick Vieira’s squad will work “in pairs”, apart from the November international break.

Two away trips will kick off the run: the first to Saint-Etienne on 18 October. A stadium at which Les Aiglons have come away without a win in their last four visits...

Four days later, they will travel to Germany, to begin their Europa League campaign against Bayer Leverskusen, the Bundesliga heavyweights on Thursday 22 October at 6.55pm.

Two home matches will follow the two away encounters. On Sunday 25 October, they will take on Lille, joint-leader of L1 after 6 matches (14 points on a par with Rennes).

Les Dogues will also be in Europa League action on the same day as Les Aiglons, in Prague, against Sparta. Four days later (Thursday 29, 9pm), Les Azuréens will be back at the Allianz Riviera  for another home encounter on Matchday 2 of the Europa League against Hapoël Beer-Sheva, the current holders of the Israel Cup.

Three days after the return of European football to Nice, Le Gym will head to the west of the country to face Angers (kick-off on Sunday 1 November at 3pm). 

This will be followed on Thursday 5 November with a trip to Prague to take on Slavia (kick-off at 6.55pm).

A derby to close and a derby to kick things back off!

The period will come to a magnificent end, with Les Aiglons taking part in their first derby of the season, against Monaco in Nice, on Sunday 8 November (5pm). 

With things going in pairs, Patrick Vieira’s side will travel to Marseille after the international break for the other derby of the first half of the season (on the weekend of 22 November).

Photos : Icon Sport

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