Nice striker Mario Balotelli will miss the return leg of their finely poised Champions League third qualifying round tie against Ajax on Wednesday after limping out of the 1-1 draw in the first leg.

Balotelli

The Italian target man gave Nice, third in France’s Ligue 1 last season, the lead before limping off when a nagging thigh strain flared up last Wednesday, and has not trained since.

The winner of the tie goes into the final Champions League play-off round and the loser into the Europa League play-off round.