nice vs benfica

OGC Nice faced SL Benfica on August 6, 2025, at Allianz Riviera in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. This highly anticipated fixture marked Nice’s home advantage as they looked to secure a result against a Benfica side with a historically superior head-to-head record. Benfica had previously won both prior meetings between the sides, including a 3-0 victory in a 2022 club friendly^[1][2].

Both teams entered the match amid injury concerns. Nice played without key players like Mohamed Abdelmonem and Youssouf Ndayishimiye (both out with cruciate ligament injuries until January 2026), while Benfica were missing Alexander Bah and Manu Silva due to similar long-term injuries^[2].

The predicted lineup for Nice featured Yehvann Diouf in goal, with defensive stalwarts like Dante and Antoine Mendy. Midfielder Morgan Sanson and forwards Terem Moffi and Badredine Bouanani also started^[1].

The match was balanced, with both sides seeking to gain an early advantage in the tie. The first half saw a few promising attacks but ultimately ended goalless, leaving everything to play for in the second leg^[4]. As of the latest updates, the aggregate remains 0-0, with the decisive return leg scheduled for August 12, 2025, at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon^[5][6].

Looking at recent team form, Benfica came into this tie strong, having won 2 of their last 5 fixtures, while Nice boasted 4 wins from their last 5, demonstrating defensive solidity and attacking prowess^[3].

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