Nice will take on Benfica in the third round of Champions League qualifying on Wednesday, 6 August, in a clash between two of the best teams in this qualifying round.
Nice finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season, while Benfica finished second in Liga Portugal, making this a heavyweight tussle for this stage of the competition.
As part of this week's round of Champions League betting tips, check out our Nice vs Benfica prediction below.
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Nice vs Benfica prediction: The hosts to come out on top
Key stats
- Nice have scored nine goals across their last three competitive home matches.
- Both teams have scored in two of Benfica's last three matches.
- Both teams have scored in three of Nice's last four matches.
Correct score prediction: Nice 2-1 Benfica
Nice have had a solid pre-season in preparation for the new season, while there could be some tired legs in the Benfica camp after they played in the Club World Cup less than a month ago. The lack of rest could come back to bite them, and Nice should smell blood.
Pre-game odds and win probability: The hosts go in as the underdogs
- HOME: 19/10 (2.90) – 34.5%
- DRAW: 5/2 (3.50) – 28.6%
- AWAY: 5/4 (2.25) – 44.4%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The Nice vs Benfica odds suggest that Benfica are the most likely winners on Tuesday night, which is good news for us as it adds extra value to our prediction of a home win. Ladbrokes have given Nice just a 34.5% chance of winning the match, while Benfica have been given a 44.4% chance of picking up an important away victory.
Check out more of our best betting tips for matches being played this week.
Most recent H2Hs: A first competitive meeting
The match between Nice and Benfica this week will be the first time that the two teams have ever played against each other in a competitive match. They have, however, met in two pre-season friendlies since the turn of the century, with Benfica winning both of them. The most recent clash came in the summer of 2022.
Europe Friendlies 15/07/22
Benfica
Nice
Nice preview: Competitive debuts planned
Nice have no injury problems ahead of this one but they do have two new players that have every chance of starting the match. Goalkeeper, Yehvann Diouf, has been brought in to be the club's new number one while Isak Johnson has been signed to replace the outgoing Gaeten Laborde. Both men should feature in the starting XI.
Predicted lineup: Diouf (GK), Mendy, Bah, Dante, Clauss, Boudaoui, Sanson, Bard, Bouanani, Moffi, Guessand
France Ligue 1 10/05/25
L
Rennes
2
Nice
0
France Ligue 1 02/05/25
W
Reims
0
Nice
1
France Ligue 1 25/04/25
W
PSG
1
Nice
3
France Ligue 1 20/04/25
W
Angers
1
Nice
2
France Ligue 1 12/04/25
D
Strasbourg
2
Nice
2
Benfica preview: Key injuries could be pivotal
Benfica are set to play this match without several first-team players, which won't make their task any easier. Bruma, Alexander Bah and Tomas Araujo are the three stadnout names in the treatment room and the club will be desperate to get all three back as soon as possibe.
Predicted lineup: Trubin (GK), Dedic, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl, Rios, Barrenechea, Barreiro, Aursnes, Akturkoglu, Pavlidis
Portugal Primeira Liga 10/05/25
D
Sporting
1
Benfica
1
Portugal Primeira Liga 03/05/25
W
Estoril
1
Benfica
2
Portugal Primeira Liga 27/04/25
W
AVS
0
Benfica
6
Portugal Cup 23/04/25
W
FC Tirsense
0
Benfica
4
Portugal Primeira Liga 19/04/25
W
Guimaraes
0
Benfica
3
Player to watch: Vangelis Pavlidis
After a slow start to life at Benfica at the beginning of last season, Vangelis Pavlidis found his feet in Portugal during the second half of the campaign and showed why the club were so keen to sign him from AZ Alkmaar. Pavlidis ended up with a tally of 28 goals across all competitions and scored the winner in last week's Super Cup final against Sporting Lisbon.