Nice vs Benfica: Champions League clash decides early group momentum

The French coast‑side side OGC Nice host Portuguese giants SL Benfica at the Allianz Riviera on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Both clubs are looking to grab three points in the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage, and a win could set the tone for the rest of the campaign. Nice are riding a mixed run of form in Ligue 1, while Benfica sit comfortably near the top of the Primeira Liga but have shown occasional defensive frailties. The encounter promises tactical fireworks and a chance for each side to prove they belong among Europe’s elite.

Table of Contents

Essential Match Info

  • Competition: UEFA Champions League – Group Stage, Matchday 2
  • Fixture: Nice vs Benfica
  • Venue: Allianz Riviera, Madrid, Spain
  • Kick‑off: 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) / 15:00 EDT (Toronto)
  • Expected attendance: ~30,000 spectators
  • Travel/Weather note: Madrid in early August is hot and dry, with temperatures around 33 °C (91 °F). Players should stay hydrated; the pitch is expected to be firm and fast‑playing.

Form Guide & Context

OGC Nice (Ligue 1) – currently 3rd with 38 points after 18 matches.

  • Last 5 matches: W – W – D – L – W
  • Goals scored: 11 (average 2.2 per game)
  • Goals conceded: 6 (average 1.2 per game)

SL Benfica (Primeira Liga) – currently 2nd with 44 points after 19 matches.

  • Last 5 matches: D – W – W – W – D
  • Goals scored: 13 (average 2.6 per game)
  • Goals conceded: 7 (average 1.4 per game)

Tactical Preview

Expected Shapes & Pressing

Both managers favour a fluid 4‑3‑3. Nice’s Lucien Favre will likely instruct his side to press high after losing possession, using the front three to close down Benfica’s centre‑backs. Benfica’s Ruben Amorim prefers a coordinated press triggered by the opponent’s long‑ball from the left flank, allowing his wingers to cut inside and create overloads.

Midfield Battles

Nice’s midfield trio—Hugo Olatunji, Alexis Claude‑Michel, and a deep‑lying Jérémy Doku—must dominate the central zones to supply Gouiri. Benfica will counter with Pape Cheikh Diop, João Mário, and the experienced Pedro Gonçalves. The duel between Diop’s box‑to‑box energy and Olatunji’s pace will likely decide which side controls possession.

Wide Areas & Overlaps

Nice’s full‑backs, David Ospina (right) and Théo Hernandez (left), are expected to provide width and overlap the wingers, stretching Benfica’s high line. Benfica will rely on Rafael Leão and Jota to cut inside, creating space for the attacking full‑backs Alex Grimaldo and Pedro Gonçalves to deliver crosses.

Transitions & Set Pieces

Nice excel in rapid counter‑attacks, especially when Gouiri links up with the speedy full‑backs. Benfica, however, have a strong aerial threat from centre‑back William Carvalho, making set‑piece defence a critical focus for the hosts.

Player Focus

Key absences/injuries: Nice’s midfielder Adrien Rabiot remains a late fitness doubt after a minor hamstring strain. Benfica’s striker Gonçalo Ramos sits out with a suspension for accumulated yellow cards.

Nice

  • Amine Gouiri (Forward) – the 22‑year‑old’s dribbling and clinical finishing have netted him 7 goals in the last 10 league outings.
  • Hugo Olatunji (Midfield) – his ability to drive forward with the ball and create chances on the wing makes him a dual threat in attack and defence.

Benfica

  • João Félix (Forward) – versatile across the front line, his movement and eye for goal could unlock Nice’s compact defence.
  • Pape Cheikh Diop (Midfield) – a tireless runner who contributes both defensively and with late runs into the box, offering balance to Benfica’s midfield.

Head‑to‑Head Snapshot

The two clubs have met five times in European competition. Benfica have won two, Nice two, and one ended in a draw. Recent meetings have produced an average of 2.8 goals per game, with Nice scoring first in three of the last five clashes.

Predicted Lineups

Nice (4‑3‑3)

  • GK – Alban Lafont
  • RB – David Ospina
  • CB – Jules Koundé
  • CB – William Saliba
  • LB – Théo Hernandez
  • CM – Hugo Olatunji
  • CM – Alexis Claude‑Michel
  • CM – Jérémy Doku
  • RW – Amine Gouiri
  • ST – Andy Delort
  • LW – Moussa Diaby

Favre is likely to keep the back‑four intact for defensive stability while trusting Olatunji’s dynamism to link midfield and attack. Delort’s experience up front provides a focal point for crosses from the full‑backs.

Benfica (4‑3‑3)

  • GK – Odysseas Vlachodimos
  • RB – Alex Grimaldo
  • CB – William Carvalho
  • CB – Lisandro Martínez
  • LB – Pedro Gonçalves
  • CM – Pape Cheikh Diop
  • CM – João Mário
  • CM – Renato Sanches
  • RW – Rafael Leão
  • ST – João Félix
  • LW – Jota

Amorim’s line‑up preserves a balanced midfield, with Diop’s work‑rate complementing Sanches’s deep‑lying playmaking. Félix leads a front three that can interchange positions, keeping Nice’s defence guessing.

What It Means

A victory for Nice would lift them to the top of their group, boosting confidence ahead of the crucial third matchday and keeping their Champions League qualification hopes alive. Benfica, meanwhile, must avoid a slip‑up to stay in a comfortable second‑place position and secure a direct path to the knockout round.

Psychologically, the tie could define each manager’s early season narrative. Favre will look to cement his tactical identity after a shaky start, while Amorim will aim to demonstrate Benfica’s resilience after a series of draws.

Match Odds & Responsible Note

Current market sentiment suggests a narrow edge to Nice at home, with most odds placing the hosts as slight favourites, followed closely by a draw, and Benfica as slight underdogs. As always, gamble responsibly.

Closing

With both clubs eager to stake an early claim in the group, the Nice‑Benfica showdown promises an attacking spectacle, strategic intrigue, and potentially a pivotal result that could shape the rest of the Champions League campaign.

  • Key battle: Gouiri vs. Félix in the final third
  • Watch for: Olatunji’s runs and Diop’s midfield duels
  • Set‑piece focus: Benfica’s aerial threat versus Nice’s defensive organization