Benfica (Por) vs Nice (Fra) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-08-11 19:00.
[p]After a comfortable 2-0 win in the first leg of this UEFA Champions League (UCL) third qualifying round tie, Benfica are looking to finish the job on home soil against Nice.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Big favourites to progress before a ball was kicked, Benfica lived up to expectations in last week’s reverse clash to put one foot in the play-off round. They’re yet to concede across their two competitive outings this term, so the Portuguese giants are well placed as they look to avoid missing out on the main draw of the UCL for the first time since 2020/21. And with their domestic league opener at the weekend postponed to give them more time to prepare for this clash, Benfica appear primed to end a five-match winless run in UCL home games here (D2, L3).[/p]
[p]Nice have a mountain to climb to overturn that two-goal deficit, and manager Franck Haise hardly inspired confidence of a comeback when he admitted his side are “not in the same category” as Benfica after losing the first leg. A first appearance in the main draw of the competition since way back in 1959/60 therefore looks beyond the Eaglets, especially considering their woes on the road in Europe last term when they lost all four away matches in the Europa League.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Last week’s meeting was the first-ever competitive H2H between the sides, and Nice’s first such clash against Portuguese opposition. [/p]
[p]Benfica have avoided defeat in all of their last six UCL games against Ligue 1 sides (W3, D3), last suffering defeat in November 2019.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Just three of Benfica’s last seven UCL home games have seen both teams score.[/p]
[p]Benfica have scored in each of their last 22 matches across all competitions.[/p]
[p]Six of Nice’s last seven away matches produced over 2.5 goals.[/p]
[p]Three of Nice’s prior four European away wins were accompanied by a clean sheet.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]New Benfica signing Franjo Ivanović was on target on his debut for the club in the first leg, with that being his third successive goal that served to break the deadlock. Nice’s best form of a response could come through wing-back Jonathan Clauss, who has scored four of his last six club goals after half-time.[/p]
[p]Benfica appear to have no fresh injury concerns, while Nice could be without Morgan Sanson and Dante, both of whom were forced off in last week’s first leg, as well as Moïse Bombito, Mohamed Ali-Cho and Tanguy Ndombele, all of whom are carrying knocks.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Benfica’s superiority was all too evident in the first leg, so backing the hosts for a handicap win seems the smart route to take.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]