[(SL Benfica) Strength]:
1. SL Benfica took the initiative in advancing by defeating OGC Nice away from home in the first leg. In this home game, SL Benfica hope to win over the opponents twice and advance.
2. The striker Franjo Ivanovic, who was signed by SL Benfica from Belgian Pro League side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise for 22.8 million euros in the summer transfer window, made his debut in the last game as a starter and scored the first goal for the team. His individual performance was commendable.
3. SL Benfica's first league match of the new season has been postponed to September. The team can now focus all their energy on preparing for this Champions League game, and the players also have enough time to adjust. There is no need to worry about their physical condition.
4. SL Benfica won 2-0 away against OGC Nice in the first leg. They have achieved two consecutive victories in the new season's official matches and are in excellent form.
5. SL Benfica's defensive ability is particularly outstanding. So far in the new season, they kept both clean sheets in their two official matches.
6. SL Benfica have a powerful offensive force. The team have scored 8 goals in the last 5 matches, averaging nearly 2 goals per game.
7. SL Benfica have performed very strongly at home. The team have achieved a record of 7 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in their last 10 home games. The only defeat during this period occurred in the round of 16 of the Champions League last season, when they lost 0-1 to the La Liga powerhouses Barcelona.
[(SL Benfica) Weakness]:
1. SL Benfica sold the promising young defender Alvaro Fernandez to Real Madrid for a high price of 50 million euros this summer. In addition, several players have left the team, including the main winger Di Maria, the main midfielder Kokcu, and the main rotating striker Amdouni.
[(OGC Nice) Strength]:
1. OGC Nice lost the first leg at home. They must strive for a win to have a chance of advancing, so the team are motivated.
2. This summer, OGC Nice signed Isak Jansson, the winger of SK Rapid Wien, Yehvann Diouf, the goalkeeper of Stade de Reims, and Kojo Peprah Oppong, the defender of IFK Norrkoping, and loaned in the center-back Abdulai Juma Bah from Manchester City. The overall strength of OGC Nice has been strengthened.
[(OGC Nice) Weakness]:
1. OGC Nice striker Evann Guessand joined Premier League club Aston Villa for a transfer fee of 30 million euros in the summer transfer window. This Ivorian international made 43 appearances for OGC Nice in all competitions last season, scoring 13 goals and providing 10 assists. He is the absolute core of the attack, and his departure will not significantly reduce the team's offensive power.
2. OGC Nice lost 0-2 at home to SL Benfica in the first leg and failed to continue their excellent performance in the warm-up matches.
3. OGC Nice have significant defensive issues. The team have conceded a total of 10 goals in their last 5 matches, averaging 2 goals per game.
4. OGC Nice lack away competitiveness. The team have achieved a record of 3 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses in their last 10 official away games, with a win rate of only 30%. Moreover, the team suffered all four away defeats in the Europa League last season, and their away performance in European competitions was particularly poor.
[Tips]:
SL Benfica won both of their 2 official games of the new season, with good form.
The team performed well both offensively and defensively, and they were very strong at home.
On the other hand, OGC Nice suffered a defeat at home in the first leg and failed to maintain their excellent performance in the warm-up matches.
There are significant defensive concerns in the team, and they are not good at playing away games.
Last season, OGC Nice even lost all their away games in European competitions.
So SL Benfica are expected to win over OGC Nice again in this home game.
[Recommended]:
SL Benfica (-1)
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