Nice vs Benfica Predictions

Nice vs Benfica predictions for this Champions League qualifier. Nice host Benfica at the Allianz Riviera on Wednesday night in the standout fixture of the Champions League third qualifying round, with both sides eyeing a crucial first-leg advantage. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.

Champions League | Aug 06 2025 at 8:00 pm UK at Allianz Riviera

Nice vs Benfica Predictions

Can Benfica Handle the Heat in Nice or Will the French Underdogs Bite Back?

• Benfica’s Winning Streak Holds Weight: The Portuguese giants are on an 18-match unbeaten run in normal time, showcasing their consistency across multiple competitions and match types.
• Nice Still Searching for a European Spark: Last season, Nice failed to register a single win during their eight Europa League group stage matches—a serious cause for concern ahead of this clash.
• Benfica Already Bagging Silverware: The Lisbon side claimed the Portuguese Super Cup just days ago and will be looking to carry that winning momentum into this crucial first leg.

Best Bet for Nice vs Benfica

Wednesday night promises fireworks on the Côte d’Azur as Nice welcome Benfica to the Allianz Riviera in a mouth-watering Champions League Third Qualifying Round first-leg showdown. With so much at stake, this tie already feels like a final before the final. The reward? A date with either Fenerbahce or Feyenoord for a shot at the lucrative league phase. Talk about a tough crowd.

For Nice, this fixture arrives before they’ve even kicked off their domestic season. Franck Haise’s side are still brushing off the pre-season cobwebs, although they rounded off preparations with a morale-boosting victory over Sheffield United. That said, the ghosts of last season’s dismal European campaign still hover. Just three points from eight Europa League group matches wasn’t just underwhelming—it was a full-blown embarrassment. They’ve not played Champions League group stage football since the days when TV was black and white, and they now face a mammoth task to end that drought.

Benfica, meanwhile, are already up and running. A 3-2 victory over Fenerbahce in a friendly was followed by a composed 1-0 win over Sporting Lisbon in the Super Cup, with Vangelis Pavlidis proving once again that he only scores important goals. Their schedule might have been lighter thanks to Club World Cup commitments, but they look sharp, they look focused, and let’s be honest—they look levels above a Nice side still trying to figure themselves out.

Best Bet for Nice vs Benfica: Benfica to Win

We’ve run the numbers, read between the lines, and dissected the squads. And here at BettingTips4You, we’re giving you just one Best Bet for this clash—Benfica to Win. That’s it. No confusion, no six-way betting smorgasbord. One selection, carefully chosen. Quality over quantity is what we stand for, and you’ll never have to guess what we’re backing.

And truth be told, it’s hard to make a case for Nice here.

Let’s begin with the elephant in the room: Nice’s form in Europe is, frankly, rotten. They failed to win a single game in last season’s Europa League league phase, a run that saw them collapse against the likes of Union SG, Ferencvaros, and even Elfsborg. That’s not a confidence booster going into a clash with one of the continent’s most seasoned sides.

Then there’s the fact that this will be their first competitive outing of the season. No Ligue 1 match rhythm. No edge. Just one friendly win over a Sheffield United side still waking up from their summer naps. Meanwhile, Benfica are already collecting silverware and racking up goals.

Even if you ignore form, the squad differences are clear. Nice have lost key names in Gaetan Laborde and Marcin Bulka, with Yehvann Diouf and Isak Jansson stepping in untested at this level. Benfica, on the other hand, boast serious depth. Pavlidis is in sizzling form and has struck six times in his last six Champions League appearances. That alone is enough to worry a backline still gelling.

The Eagles have been flying high, and although injuries to Bruma, Bah and Araujo might raise eyebrows, the Portuguese giants have handled far worse in recent years and still emerged strong. With their eye already firmly on the group stage, they won’t take any prisoners.

BettingTips4You.com expert quote:

“Nice might have home advantage, but Benfica have the form, the experience, and the firepower. This isn’t just a good bet—it’s the right one.” – Herrin Kendrick

It might not be a drubbing, but Benfica should be walking off that Riviera pitch with a first-leg win under their belts.

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Correct Score Prediction: Nice 1-2 Benfica

Nice could sneak a goal—they do still have talent going forward—but they’re likely to be second-best over the 90 minutes. Benfica’s sharpness and quality should be enough for a narrow but deserved 2-1 away win.

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