Benfica Remains a Nightmare Draw for French Clubs Like Nice
So here we are—Wednesday night, Champions League action, and all eyes were on Nice as they hosted Portuguese giants Benfica in the third qualifying round of the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League. The atmosphere at the Allianz Riviera was electric, anticipation was high, and both teams were fully geared up for a crucial first-leg encounter. But as much as this was a new game, for French clubs facing Benfica, there's a certain pattern—one that’s more like a curse than a coincidence.
Nice lined up in a 3-4-3 under manager Franck Haise, with veteran Dante leading the defense and Moffi, Jansson, and Bouanani up front. Benfica, led by Bruno Lage, fielded a solid 4-4-2 formation with the experienced Otamendi captaining the side and a dangerous strike duo of Ivanovic and Pavlidis. On paper, it was an even contest, but history was not on Nice’s side.
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You see, Benfica has been that team for French sides in European competitions—an unstoppable wall. Out of 19 home matches against French teams in Europe, Benfica has never lost a single one . That stat alone puts a lot of pressure on a team like Nice, who are looking to make a name for themselves on the continental stage.
To make matters worse, only three French clubs in history have managed to eliminate Benfica in European knockout competitions: Bordeaux way back in 1987, Bastia in 1998, and Marseille just last year in 2024. That’s three out of dozens over decades. It’s not just a challenge for Nice—it’s like facing a historical ghost.
Their previous meetings don’t help either. Nice and Benfica had met twice before in friendlies, and both times Benfica came out on top—3-0 in 2022 and 2-1 in 2013. Even though friendlies don’t always tell the full story, they add a psychological edge to an already uphill battle.
Whether or not Nice manages to pull off the miracle they need remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Benfica continues to haunt French clubs like a black cat crossing their European paths.
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