Benfica vs Nice predictions: Benfica to win battle of the Eagles
Benfica have scored in all of their last 21 games, dating back to March
Nice were winless in their four away games in the Europa League last season
Recommended bet: Benfica to win to nil
Benfica find themselves within touching distance of the Champions League play-offs to reach the league phase of the competition thanks to a 2-0 victory at Nice last week.
Goals from Franjo Ivanovic and Florentino Luis have given Benfica a solid platform ahead of the return leg in Lisbon on Tuesday.
With Nice’s poor recent away record in European competition, it’s going to take something special from the Ligue 1 outfit to reach the play-offs and a return to the Europa League might well be on the cards for Les Aiglons.
Team news
Having performed so well at the Allianz Riviera, it is unlikely Benfica boss Bruno Lage will tinker too much with a winning side.
That means Benfica's record signing Richard Rios is set to make his home debut at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday night, while the hosts will be without Bruma due to suspension.
Tomas Araujo, Alexander Bah, Manu Silva and Kerem Akturkoglu all remain sidelined due to injury.
Meanwhile, Nice have their own fair share of injury woes going into the second leg on Portuguese soil.
Skipper Dante was forced off at half-time in the first leg, while Morgan Sanson also suffered a hamstring injury during that game.
Mohamed Abdelmonem and Youssouf Ndayishimiye are long-term absentees due to ACL injuries, while Moise Bombito, Mohamed-Ali Cho, Tanguy Ndombele and Ali Abdi are all unavailable.
The stats
Benfica have found the back of the net in all of their last 21 games, in a run that goes back to their Champions League encounter with Barcelona back in March.
Nice had a poor away record in their Europa League campaign, failing to win any of their four matches on the road.
Nice’s last appearance in the main phase of Europe's elite club tournament was back in the 1959-60 season.
The latest Benfica vs Nice odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
There was a gulf in class between these two sides in the first leg and the added injuries for Nice have certainly not helped matters for manager Franck Haise as he tries to overturn things in the second game away.
Les Aiglons failed to find a way past Benfica on their own patch at Allianz Riviera and they might well struggle to find the back of the net on Tuesday, with their poor European away form looking set to continue.
