2025.08.12 Champions League: Benfica VS Nice Pre-match Analysis

At 03:00 am on August 13, the third round of the Champions League qualifiers will usher in a focus battle. Portuguese Super League powerhouse Benfica sits at the Guangming Stadium and faces Ligue 1 team Nice. In the first leg, Benfica defeated Nice 2-0 away, gaining the opportunity to advance. When they returned to home, they were eager to defend their advantage and successfully advance to the Champions League play-offs.

1. Event background and team status

(I) Benfica, as a traditional giant in the Portuguese Super League, is quite influential in European football, with a deep football background and a huge fan base. Last season, the team performed well in the Portuguese Premier League, winning the league runner-up with 24 wins, 7 draws, 3 losses and 79 points, only 3 points behind champion Porto. In the Champions League, the team successfully broke through the group stage. Although they regretted losing to the strong opponent in the knockout round, their overall performance was remarkable.

During the offseason, Benfica made reasonable adjustments to the lineup. In terms of transfer, some marginal players left the team, freeing up salary space and lineup places for the team. In terms of signings, the team has precisely strengthened and introduced powerful players from multiple leagues. Among them, new player Flaño Ivanovic scored in his debut and showed good condition; new midfielder Rios also quickly integrated into the team system, enhancing the control and creativity of the midfield and injecting new vitality into the team.

Thanks to reasonable lineup adjustments and targeted signings, Benfica performed well in the pre-season warm-up match and showed strong competitiveness. In many matches with teams in different leagues, Benfica players cooperated more and more tacitly and implemented tactical strategies, laying a solid foundation for the official game of the new season.

(II) Nice

Nice is a force that cannot be underestimated in the Ligue 1 arena. The team has a distinctive tactical style and focuses on defensive counterattacks. Last season, Nice played a steady role in the Ligue 1, ranking seventh with 14 wins, 12 draws, 12 losses and 54 points, qualifying for the European Cup. Its home performance is particularly outstanding, with the Allianz Rivera Stadium being a solid fortress, conceding only 15 goals in 17 home games, and averaging 0.88 goals per game, ranking among the top in Ligue 1 in defensive data.

However, Nice suffered a heavy blow in his debut in the Champions League in the new season. The first leg lost to Benfica 0-2 at home, revealing the team's lack of offense and lack of experience in tough battles when facing the top European teams. Throughout the game, Nice performed weakly on the offensive end, with only two shots direct, making it difficult to pose a substantial threat to Benfica's defense line. During the summer window, Nice made less moves in lineup adjustment. Most of the players who transfer out are marginal figures in rotation, which has limited impact on the team's strength; in terms of signings, although new faces have joined, they have not yet shown their strength to change the team's pattern in the game, and it will take some time for new players to integrate into the team's tactical system.

2. Recent record and status

(I) Benfica

Benfica has been in excellent shape recently, and has remained unbeaten in the last 18 official games in regular time, with a record of 12 wins and 6 draws. During this period, the team had excellent offense and defense, averaging 2.1 goals per game and conceded only 0.8 goals per game on the defensive end. In the two official matches of the new season, Benfica won and did not lose a single goal, which shows its defensive resilience and offensive efficiency.

The first leg of the Champions League qualifiers defeated Nice 2-0 away, which greatly enhanced the team's morale and confidence. During the game, Benfica firmly controlled the situation on the field, with a ball possession rate of up to 57%, and his shots and shots were far superior to his opponents. The players showed strong combat and tactical execution ability on the away game.

(II) Nice

Nice has seen a big record fluctuation in recent days, with 6 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses in the last 10 games. But in the European arena, the team performed poorly, having failed to win 11 consecutive games, with a record of 5 draws and 6 losses, and the last time they won in the European game was dated back to 2024.

At the end of last season, Nice's condition declined significantly and performed poorly in many key games. In the new season, although the team has performed well in the league, facing European powerhouses like Benfica, the complete defeat in the first leg highlights the gap between the team and the top teams in the European level. Especially in the away game, Nice has only achieved a bleak record of 1 draw and 4 losses in its last five European games, and its away game ability is worrying.

3. Core players and lineup status

(I) Benfica

Offensive end, Benfica is full of talents, the forward players have outstanding personal abilities, and have excellent sense of smell and finishing ability in front of the goal. Midfielders have first-class organization and scheduling capabilities, and can create a large number of scoring opportunities for the front line through precise passes, and the offensive system runs smoothly.

has rich experience in the defense line, players have a tacit cooperation, and excellent defensive awareness and position sense. The addition of new players further strengthens the thickness and strength of the defense line. When facing opponents' offense, they can effectively organize defense and resolve crises.

(II) On the Nice

front line, main forward Evan Gesander approached Aston Villa, and main forward Trem Murphy just returned from injury and was in a good state, which greatly reduced the team's offensive strength and his offensive firepower depended heavily on veteran Depp. In the midfield, core player Morgan Sanson was injured in the first round and was suspected of playing in the second round. If he cannot make a appearance, it will greatly weaken the team's creativity and control in the midfield and affect the team's rhythm from defense to offense.

The defense line is not in a state of disorganization due to injuries and suspension issues, and the absence of the main central defender has damaged the strength of the defense line. Faced with Benfica's sharp attack, the defense line is under great pressure, and there are obvious hidden dangers in high-altitude ball defense and one-on-one defense.

4. Tactical style

(I) Benfica

Benfica's tactical style is proactive and focuses on ball control and offensive organization. During the game, the team continuously tear the opponent's defense line through the short pass penetration of the midfielder and combined with the edge and middle.. Benfica also has a lot of experience in setting-piece tactics, using the players' height advantages and tactics to create many scoring opportunities.

Defense, the team strongly adjusts the physical defense, and the players complement each other. Through active pressing and reasonable defensive formation, the opponent's offensive space is compressed. When defensive is turned to offense, they can quickly launch a counterattack and catch the opponent off guard.

(II) Nice

Nice is good at defensive counterattack tactics. In the defensive stage, the team builds a tight defense line, and midfielders actively participate in defense to interfere with and intercept the opponent's passing route. Once the ball is successfully intercepted, a quick counterattack will be launched quickly and the speed and personal abilities of the forward players will hit the opponent's defense.

However, facing the powerful Benfica, Nice's defensive counterattack tactic at home in the first leg did not work. In the away game in the second leg, if Nice wants to reverse and advance, she needs to make adjustments to her tactics and strengthen offensive investment, but this may leave Benfica more room for counterattack and is in a dilemma in tactical choices.

5. Historical confrontation record

The two teams have met 3 times in history, and Benfica has an absolute advantage with 2 wins and 1 draw. In the first leg of the Champions League qualifier this season, Benfica defeated Nice 2-0 away. The past confrontation records have given Benfica a significant psychological advantage, while Nice urgently needs to break the psychological curse in this game.

6. Event forecast

Based on various factors, Benfica has a great advantage in this game. The team held a 2-0 lead in the first leg, returned to home games, had enthusiastic home fans support, and the team was in excellent overall condition and had relatively neat lineup.

It is expected that Benfica will continue its offensive posture and constantly seek opportunities to score through active ball control and offensive organization. Due to the lack of core players, Nice's offense and lack of offense, it is extremely difficult to reverse the disadvantage of two goals in the away game.

Judging from the data model and bookmaker odds, Benfica has a high probability of winning, and the score is expected to be 2-0 or 1-0. Benfica successfully advances to the Champions League play-offs. But football matches are full of uncertainty. Ruonis can adjust his tactics, unite on the defensive end, seize the possible mistakes that Benfica may make, and use efficient counterattacks, and there is also a possibility of a low probability of uproar. This second-round match of the Champions League qualifying match will surely attract the attention of many fans, let us look forward to the two teams bringing you wonderful games.

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