Benfica returns to the Champions League qualifiers over four weeks after losing to Chelsea in the last 16 stage of the FIFA Club World Cup. The Portuguese giants take on French side OGC Nice in the first leg of their third round qualifier, seeking to qualify for the main draw of the Champions League for the fifth straight year. Their opponents, Nice, have not played in UEFA’s elite competition for over sixty years, while their Europa League travels last year ended in a big disaster, with the French side finishing second-to-bottom out of 36 teams in the league phase. Understandably, the Portuguese side is the slight favorite to win, having started the season by beating Sporting Lisbon to claim the Portuguese Super Cup.
Bet on Nice vs. Benfica with Bet365
- FOOTBALL: UEFA Champions League, Third Round Qualifier
- Where to watch: ESPN, DAZN, Prime, beIN, Sony Sports Network, BBC, TNT, Viaplay, CBS, Canal+, Supersport, Sky Sports
- Venue: Allianz Riviera, Nice, France
- Date: 06.08.2025 21:00 CET
Nice
Nice has underperformed in Europe in the last decade, winning only one knockout tie in that period. Their Europa League performances the previous year were in character, with Nice winning only three points from eight games to finish 35th in the league phase of the competition. Franck Haise's team qualified for this round following a fourth-place finish in Ligue 1 last term and must find a way to get into the Champions League draw for the first time since the 1960-61 season. Their preseason stats are encouraging, with Nice recording victories over Feyenoord, Sheffield United, and Cercle Brugge. Haise also has no injury worries ahead of the tie. The French side boosted its team with some new players over the Summer. The incomings include goalkeeper Yehvann Dioufa from Reims and Isak Jansson from Rapid Vienna.
Nice possible starting lineup:
Diouf; Mendy, Juma Bah, Dante, Clauss, Sanson, Boudaoui, Bard, Bouanini, Moffi, Guessand
Bet on Nice vs. Benfica with Bet365Benfica
After a bitter struggle for the league and Taca de Portugal last season, in which Benfica came out empty-handed, the Portuguese giants have drawn first blood this term by beating Sporting Lisbon to lift the Super Cup with a solo strike from Vangelis Pavlidis. Bruno Lage’s men had a muted preseason, playing only one game, in which they beat Fenerbahce 3-2. Benfica had an eventful summer in the USA, though, beating Auckland City and Bayern Munich, together with a draw against Boca Juniors, to make it to the round of 16 at the Club World Cup. A Herculean effort against Chelsea, despite being one man down, saw them force extra time before succumbing 4-1. Angel Di Maria had equalized in the 92nd minute after Chelsea took a 64th-minute lead. They are now unbeaten in regulation time in 18 games.
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Dedic, Antonio Silva, Otamendi, Dahl, Rios, Barrenechea, Barreiro, Aursnes, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu
Betting Odds
Benfica is a 2.38 favorite on 1xbet, which has OGC Nice to win at 2.947 odds. Both teams to score is 1.58 odds on Betway, with the draw offered for 3.34 odds. Vangelis Pavlidis to score is 2.05 odds on Bet365, while over 2.5 is offered at 1.75 odds. Read more here.
Bet on Nice vs. Benfica with Bet365
