Renoise prepares to face Benfica Lisbon in the third preliminary round of the Champions League, a major challenge for the Nice team. The one-way match, crucial for qualifying, is scheduled for August 5 or 6 at home. As a non-head of the series, Nice did not have a favorable draw and will have to face a Benfica team in full shape, the recent eighth finalist of the World Cup of Clubs. This confrontation is expected to be particularly intense, as Benfica has not missed the hen phase of the Champions League since 2020, and aims to qualify for the dams. Qualification is all the more important as failure would lead to relegation to the Europa League.

Benfica Lisbon arrives with a season more than correct, after being the last qualified for the league phase of the Champions League and eliminated the AS Monaco in 16th final. They were then eliminated by FC Barcelona in the eighth of the final, but nevertheless achieved an honorable campaign at the World Cup of Clubs, stopping in eighths against Chelsea, winner of the 2025 edition. The Portuguese club, rich in an impressive record of 38 Portuguese champion titles and two Champions Cups won consecutively in 1961 and 1962, is well-rounded for the major events and seeks to revive its dynamic after a short summer break before the start of the championship on 10 August.

For Nice, this meeting represents a colossal feat. After a tough campaign in the Europa League last season, where the team finished 35th out of 36 teams, with only three draws and five losses against middle-level opponents, qualifying for the Champions League would be a major step forward. Joining clubs like Paris, Marseille and Monaco will require an exceptional level of performance and an ability to overcome a formidable opponent. Mental and tactical preparation will be crucial for Nice to hope to win this game and qualify for the next competition.

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