Preview:Benfica vs Nice - prediction, team news, lineups

With a two-goal lead from last week's first leg, Benfica will aim to finish the job on Tuesday, as they conclude their Champions League third-round qualifier against Nice.

Victory in France put the Portuguese giants within touching distance of the playoffs, where either Feyenoord or Fenerbahce will await.

Match preview

Despite their fans being banned from attending the Allianz Riviera, Benfica continued a bright start to the 2025-26 campaign by winning last Wednesday's first leg 2-0.

Summer signing Franjo Ivanovic latched onto a Fredrik Aursnes cross shortly after half time, putting the visitors in front, before Florentino's long-range strike seized control of the tie late on.

There has been no lack of sharpness despite a lighter pre-season schedule, due to Benfica's participation in the Club World Cup, where they went out to eventual winners Chelsea in the last 16.

After a brief break, Bruno Lage's squad returned to action with a friendly win over Fenerbahce, before beating bitter rivals Sporting Lisbon to win the Supertaca at the end of July.

Having now scored in 21 straight games - dating back to a Champions League meeting with Barcelona in March - Benfica have been further boosted by the Primeira Liga's decision to postpone their league opener against Rio Ave.

So, with six days to prepare for the second leg, As Aguias will expect to get the job done back at Estadio da Luz.

Given their deficit, Nice face a huge task to reach this year's Champions League playoffs, where each winner gains entry to the 36-team league phase.

The French side finished fourth in Ligue 1 last term, opening up a chance to play in the main phase of Europe's top tournament for the first time since 1959-60.

Yet, the first leg result suggests they may be bound to replicate last year's dismal continental campaign: Franck Haise's men took just three points from eight league-phase games in the Europa League.

En route to finishing 35th in the standings, Les Aiglons were winless in their four away matches, so visiting Lisbon could be a cause for trepidation.

Post-match in Nice, Haise freely admitted a gulf in quality between the two teams, and barring an unlikely turnaround his side will drop down to UEFA's second-tier competition.

Benfica Champions League form: W

Benfica form (all competitions): W W

Nice Champions League form: L

Team News

Bruno Lage is not expected to make many changes to a winning XI on Tuesday evening, when Benfica's record signing Richard Rios should make his home debut.

The Colombian could start alongside Aston Villa loanee Enzo Barrenechea in midfield, while defensive pairing Antonio Silva and Nicolas Otamendi provide familiar security at the back.

Vangelis Pavlidis will lead the line up front, possibly with support from new boy Franjo Ivanovic, scorer of the breakthrough goal last week.

While the hosts are without suspended winger Bruma - plus Tomas Araujo, Alexander Bah, Manu Silva and Kerem Akturkoglu - Nice's longstanding injury issues continue to plague them.

Adding to a long list, 41-year-old captain Dante was forced off at half time on Wednesday, after key midfielder Morgan Sanson had suffered a hamstring injury.

Mohamed Abdelmonem and Youssouf Ndayishimiye (both ACL) are absent long-term, while Moise Bombito, Mohamed-Ali Cho, Tanguy Ndombele and Ali Abdi have all been struggling for fitness.

Furthermore, forwards Gaetan Laborde and Evann Guessand have gone elsewhere this summer, leaving Terem Moffi to shoulder most of the burden up front.

Benfica possible starting lineup: Trubin; Dedic, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Rios, Barrenechea; Aursnes, Ivanovic, Schjelderup; Pavlidis

Nice possible starting lineup: Diouf; Mendy, Bah, Oppong; Clauss, Rosario, Boudaoui, Bard; Bouanani, Moffi, Boga