Nice vs SL Benfica: Overview

OGC Nice and Sport Lisboa e Benfica faced off in what proved to be a compelling UEFA Champions League third qualifying round first leg at the Allianz Riviera on August 6, 2025. The Portuguese giants demonstrated their superior match fitness and tactical cohesion, claiming a decisive 2-0 victory away from home that puts them firmly in control of the tie.

The atmosphere in Nice was electric as the local supporters, starved of Champions League football since the 2017/18 season, created a cauldron of noise to welcome their team back to Europe's elite competition. Despite the fervent backing, Franck Haise's men struggled to match the intensity of a Benfica side already in competitive rhythm after their Portuguese Super Cup triumph over Sporting CP.

Benfica's pressing game proved too much for Nice to handle, with the visitors controlling proceedings for long periods. The difference in match sharpness was evident throughout, as "Benfica" capitalized on their superior conditioning to dominate possession and create the clearer opportunities. The result leaves "Nice" with a mountain to climb in the return leg in Lisbon, where they'll need to overturn a two-goal deficit against a team unbeaten in 19 consecutive regular matches.

This defeat significantly complicates Nice's Champions League aspirations, with the French side now facing the distinct possibility of dropping into the Europa League qualifying rounds. For Bruno Lage's "Benfica", this professional away performance puts them in prime position to advance to the play-off round, where either Fenerbahçe or Feyenoord potentially awaits.

"We knew this would be a difficult test against a Benfica side already in competitive rhythm. Unfortunately, we couldn't match their intensity for the full 90 minutes. This is just the first leg, though, and we'll go to Lisbon believing we can turn this around," said Franck Haise, Nice's coach after the defeat.

"I'm satisfied with how we approached this game. To come to a difficult venue like Nice and secure a two-goal advantage shows the character and quality of this team. But I must emphasize to my players that this tie is only half done. We need the same focus and determination in the return leg," Bruno Lage commented in his post-match press conference.

"Their experience at this level showed tonight. We had good moments but couldn't capitalize. The atmosphere was incredible and we're disappointed we couldn't reward our fans with a better result," admitted Nice captain Dante, who faced a challenging evening against Benfica's attack.

"We executed our game plan perfectly. The clean sheet is as important as the two goals. Nice will come at us in Lisbon, but we have the quality and experience to manage the situation," stated Benfica defender Nicolás Otamendi, whose leadership at the back proved crucial in silencing Nice's forwards.

"The difference in match rhythm was evident tonight. Nice are a good side but they're still finding their competitive edge, while Benfica looked sharp and already in season form. The Portuguese side are clear favorites to progress after this result," analyzed former French international and pundit Christophe Dugarry for the broadcast partners.

The statistical breakdown of the OGC Nice vs Sport Lisboa e Benfica Champions League qualifier reveals the Portuguese side's dominance. "Benfica" controlled 62% of possession against Nice's 38%, illustrating their command of the midfield battle. This control translated into offensive superiority, with Benfica registering 14 total shots (7 on target) compared to Nice's 9 attempts (just 3 finding the target).

Corner kicks further reflected the territorial advantage, with Benfica forcing 8 corners to Nice's modest 3. The disciplinary record showed a more physical approach from the French side, who accumulated 3 yellow cards while Benfica received just 1 caution, suggesting Nice's struggles to contain their opponents through legitimate means.

Individual Performances

"Benfica's" Vangelis Pavlidis proved the difference-maker, recording 4 shots with 3 on target, including his crucial goal. The Greek forward completed 87% of his passes, demonstrating his all-around contribution. Midfielder Richard Ríos dominated the center of the park with an impressive 94% pass completion rate and 7 ball recoveries.

For "Nice", Terem Moffi cut an isolated figure up front, managing just 2 shots and completing only 65% of his attempted passes. Captain Dante made 9 clearances and 3 blocks in a valiant defensive effort, while newcomer Yehvann Diouf made 5 saves to prevent an even more damaging scoreline.

The heat map indicated Benfica's territorial superiority, with significant activity in Nice's defensive third. The average positions map revealed Nice's deep defensive block, with their midfield frequently dropping to form a back seven when under pressure, limiting their counter-attacking opportunities.

7' - Early pressure from "Benfica" as Richard Ríos stung the palms of Diouf with a powerful drive from 20 yards. The Colombian midfielder found space between Nice's lines, exposing early tactical issues for the home side.

23' - First major opportunity for "Nice" as Terem Moffi broke clear on the counter-attack but shot straight at Trubin when one-on-one. A critical missed chance that would come back to haunt the French side.

37' - GOAL (0-1) - Vangelis Pavlidis broke the deadlock for "Benfica" with a clinical finish from Andreas Schjelderup's cutback. The Greek forward timed his run perfectly to evade Nice's defensive line and slot past Diouf from 12 yards.

41' - Tactical adjustment by Haise as Nice switched from their initial 5-2-3 to a more conventional 4-3-3, pushing Badredine Bouanani further forward to support Moffi in attack.

58' - Double substitution for "Nice" as Haise sought to inject energy into his tiring side. The changes initially sparked a positive response with increased pressure on Benfica's defense.

73' - GOAL (0-2) - Against the run of play, "Benfica" doubled their advantage through Fredrik Aursnes, who arrived late in the box to head home Dedić's pinpoint cross following a well-worked move down the right flank.

82' - Final roll of the dice from Nice as they committed more men forward, leaving spaces that Benfica nearly exploited for a third goal. António Silva's goal-line clearance denied Nice a crucial late goal that would have changed the complexion of the tie.

The clash between OGC Nice and Sport Lisboa e Benfica marked the first-ever competitive meeting between these two storied clubs, adding a layer of historical significance to this Champions League qualifier. With no direct head-to-head record to analyze, both teams entered uncharted territory at the Allianz Riviera.

While lacking previous encounters, their contrasting European pedigrees told their own story. "Benfica", two-time European Cup winners and regulars in the Champions League group stages, brought significantly more continental experience than "Nice", whose European adventures have been more sporadic and predominantly in the Europa League.

The key individual battle that shaped this inaugural meeting came between Nice's veteran captain Dante and Benfica's Greek forward Vangelis Pavlidis. The Brazilian defender's experience was tested against Pavlidis' movement and finishing ability, with the Benfica striker ultimately winning this crucial duel by finding the net for the opener.

In midfield, Nice's Morgan Sanson struggled to impose himself against the technically superior Richard Ríos, whose control of tempo repeatedly allowed Benfica to dictate proceedings. The wide battle between Nice's new signing Isak Jansson and Benfica's Amar Dedić similarly favored the visitors, with Dedić's defensive discipline nullifying the Swedish winger while still contributing to attacking moves.

This first chapter in the Nice-Benfica rivalry firmly established the Portuguese side's superiority, setting a benchmark against which future encounters will be measured. The second leg in Lisbon will determine whether this nascent rivalry develops into a more regular European fixture or remains a brief footnote in both clubs' histories.

This UEFA Champions League third qualifying round fixture represents a critical juncture for both clubs in their European campaigns. As this is a knockout tie rather than a league format, traditional standings don't apply, but the result significantly impacts both teams' European trajectories.

OGC Nice entered this qualifying round after finishing 4th in Ligue 1 last season, earning their first Champions League opportunity since 2017/18. This defeat leaves them precariously positioned, requiring a minimum two-goal victory in Lisbon to force extra time. Statistics suggest teams losing home first legs 0-2 advance less than 8% of the time in European competitions.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica, who finished as runners-up in Portugal's Primeira Liga, have substantially strengthened their position to reach the Champions League play-off round. Their impressive away performance continues a strong start to their season after lifting the Portuguese Super Cup.

Should Nice fail to overturn this deficit, they would drop into the Europa League play-off round, while progression for Benfica would pit them against either Fenerbahçe or Feyenoord in the final qualifying hurdle before the lucrative Champions League group stage.

Benfica's European coefficient ranking (currently 8th in UEFA's club rankings) further underscores the challenge facing Nice, who sit considerably lower at 46th, reflecting the gap in recent European pedigree that was evident throughout this first leg encounter.