The standout showdown of the Champions League Third Qualifying Round unfolds at the Allianz Riviera on Wednesday night, as Nice play host to Benfica in what promises to be a heavyweight clash on the Côte d'Azur.
With Monday's playoff draw throwing a curveball, the winner of this two-legged affair is set to lock horns with either Fenerbahce or Feyenoord in the next round, raising the stakes significantly for all four sides vying for a coveted spot in the league phase.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch, including TV channel, streaming details and more.
How to watch Nice vs Benfica online - TV channels & live streams
| Country | TV channel / live stream |
|---|---|
| International | Official Club Channel Home |
| Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia | Arena 2 Premium |
| Israel | 5Sport |
| Indonesia | Vidio |
| China | ZhiBo8 |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Arena Sport 2P |
| Portugal | Sport TV Multiscreen, Sport TV1 |
This UCL qualifier between Nice and Benfica will not be available to watch via traditional live TV broadcast in the United Kingdom or USA. Supporters can catch all the action live via Official Club Channel Home, as well as Benfica and Nice's own digital platforms.
Check out GOAL's Live Match Centre for updates.
How to watch anywhere with VPN
If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out GOAL's guide to the best VPNs for streaming sport.
Nice vs Benfica kick-off time
The UCL qualifier between Nice and Benfica will be played at Allianz Riviera in Nice, France.
It will kick off at 12 pm PT / 3 pm ET on Wednesday, August 6, in the US.
Team news & squads
Nice vs Benfica lineups
3-4-1-2
Formation
4-4-2
BENNCE-Line up
NCESubstitutes
Manager
F. Haise
BEN-Line up
BENSubstitutes
Manager
B. Lage
Injuries and Suspended players
Injuries and Suspensions
- No sidelined players
Injuries and Suspensions
- No sidelined players
Nice team news
For Nice, preseason has been smooth sailing on the injury front, giving Franck Haise a near full-strength squad to pick from for this crucial first leg. That said, the club did wave goodbye to two key figures, shot-stopper Marcin Bulka and forward Gaetan Laborde, both of whom took the Saudi Pro League route this summer.
To fill the voids, Yehvann Diouf has been brought in between the sticks from relegated Reims, while Isak Jansson arrives from Rapid Vienna to bolster the front line. Both could be in line for their official bows in red and black.
Benfica team news
As for Benfica, it's been a busy window at the Estádio da Luz. The Portuguese giants are pulling out all the stops to reclaim domestic dominance from Sporting CP, with Franjo Ivanovic the latest addition, joining from Union SG just last week. However, displacing Vangelis Pavlidis from the starting lineup won't be easy. The Greek forward, fresh off his Super Cup heroics, has bagged six goals in as many Champions League games and looks undroppable.
On the downside, Roger Schmidt will be without several familiar faces, with Bruma, Alexander Bah, and Tomas Araujo all ruled out through injury, slightly denting Benfica's depth ahead of this high-stakes encounter.
Form
NCE-Form
NCE- Goal Scored (Conceded)
- 11/8
- Games over 2.5 goals
- 4/5
- Both teams scored
- 3/5
BEN-Form
BENSporting CP
0
-
1
Benfica
W
Benfica
3
-
2
Fenerbahce
W
Benfica
1
-
4
Chelsea
L
Benfica
1
-
0
Bayern Munich
W
Benfica
6
-
0
Auckland City FC
W
- Goal Scored (Conceded)
- 12/6
- Games over 2.5 goals
- 3/5
- Both teams scored
- 2/5
Head-to-Head Record
NCELast 2 matches
BEN0
Wins
0
Draws
2
Wins
Goals scored
5- Games over 2.5 goals
- 2/2
- Both teams scored
- 1/2