Frank Haise prepares his "Nice" team for their first Champions League qualifying round semifinal against "Benfica" on August 6. The match kicks off at 10:00 PM Kyiv time at Allianz Riviera stadium, marking a crucial European fixture for both clubs.
"We've worked all last season for this opportunity, finishing fourth in the league wasn't easy," the French coach might say about reaching this stage of qualification.
Haise's achievement last season shouldn't be underestimated - he guided "Nice" to a fourth-place finish in Ligue 1, edging out "Lille" on tiebreakers as both ended with 60 points, just one behind "Monaco" with 61.
The French side has been busy in the transfer market this summer. They've splashed some serious cash - including a hefty €10 million to Vienna's "Rapid" for Jansson. Not small change for a French club, by the way. However, their revamped squad has only tested itself in friendlies so far.
Roger Schmidt's "Benfica" enters this tie with momentum after claiming the Portuguese Super Cup. The Eagles defeated their eternal rivals "Sporting" thanks to a second-half strike from Vangelis Pavlidis. This victory served as both a trophy and a confidence booster before their European campaign.
Interestingly, "Benfica" has experienced consecutive near-misses in domestic competitions. After winning the Portuguese league in 2023, they've finished second to "Sporting" in the following two seasons. They also lost the cup final, with goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin settling for just the League Cup after winning a penalty shootout in that final.
The history between these teams is minimal - just two friendly matches in 2013 and 2022, both won by the Portuguese side. Bookmakers consider "Benfica" favorites to win this first official encounter, reflecting their stronger overall profile.
Can Haise's restructured "Nice" squad pull off a surprise against Schmidt's more experienced European campaigners? The first leg might tell us everything about their chances of reaching the Champions League proper.
