Champions League: Against Benfica and without its top scorers, Nice must draw on its last strength to dream of a play-off

Traveling to the Estadio da Luz is no easy feat. Going there with a two-goal deficit to overcome is a near-impossible task. Tomorrow night, Nice will need to be at 200% and have a bit of luck to secure a spot in the Champions League play-offs. There haven't been many reasons for hope since the first leg, which they lost 2-0 at home, as Nice were no match for a Benfica side much more accustomed to the top flight.

Naive in defense, especially after the injury-related exit of the experienced Dante, Franck Haise's men appeared especially lacking in attack, where the trio of Bouanani, Moffi, and Jansson disappointed. They would have needed much more cutting edge and certainty to destabilize a defensive line of Antonio Silva and Nicolás Otamendi who had a very quiet evening, except for Jonathan Clauss' solo performance, which was finished off at the end of the race with a shot that was too crushed with his left foot.

Still need time

The departures of Gaëtan Laborde to Al-Diriyah and Evann Guessand to Aston Villa, last season's two top scorers, represent good financial moves for the club but they are sporting losses that will be very difficult to compensate for.

As a result, Nice's attacking sector appeared particularly weak in this third preliminary round first leg, which currently relies almost exclusively on Terem Moffi, less than a week before the resumption of Ligue 1. The Nigerian, whose qualities are best expressed in transition play, has provided valuable services since his arrival in January 2023 (9 goals in all competitions during his first six months at Nice, 11 during the following season) but his first competitive start in 15 months served as a reminder that he would still need time to recover his mobility, his best feelings and find his place in the attacking animation desired by Franck Haise.

The face of tomorrow's match shouldn't play in his favor either, as with a two-goal lead, Benfica will have no interest in opening up and therefore creating space behind him. Behind him is Bernard Nguene, a somewhat default understudy who has shown great promise in preparation, but doesn't yet have the talent to represent a real solution for Franck Haise.

Winger Isak Jansson will also need time and patience, having arrived from Rapid Vienna with a delay in his physical development and also having to deal with adductor discomfort. His great determination and dedication to work, which have not gone unnoticed within the club, should help him launch his Nice adventure after his very timid debut at the Allianz Riviera. Was giving him a start in this Champions League match a gift?

Little ammunition

Franck Haise didn't have many other options anyway. Even though he's leaving, Jérémie Boga has the CV to compete for a spot in tomorrow's starting eleven. However, his performance during preseason hasn't been enough to encourage a starting role. Also coming on late in the first leg in place of Bouanani, who we hope will be out for revenge, Sofiane Diop, recovered from his pubalgia surgery, has talent but probably not enough fuel to hope for more than a place on the bench in Lisbon. As for Mohamed-Ali Cho, back in team training and capable of playing up front, he could join the squad, but again, he will inevitably lack rhythm. In the attacking sector, as in midfield, the Gym needs reinforcements but also knows the need not to panic in a difficult transfer window for the majority of French clubs. Hampered in their efforts by the aborted transfer of Hamburg player Ransford Königsdörffer just before the first leg, the management went back to looking for a striker, capable of playing alongside Moffi or providing real competition.

Auxerre player Lassine Sinayoko is, like others, on a list of profiles being studied, without this interest having been followed up for the moment by any contact or offer. In any case, it is with the same weapons as in the first leg that the Gym will have to seek a huge feat on the pitch of Benfica. Sharper, this time? The probable eleven Diouf - Mendy, Bah, Dante (c) - Clauss, Boudaoui, Rosario, Bard - Bouanani, Moffi, Jansson