**This Wednesday, OGC Nice faces Benfica Lisbon, at Allianz Riviera, in the first leg of this 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League. All the pre-match information for this clash can be found here.**
We’re here! After over two months of waiting, OGC Nice enters the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League. The first of two rounds separate the Eagles from the group stage of the competition. This Wednesday, the first leg takes place at Allianz Riviera (kick-off at 9 p.m.). Franck Haise’s players are ready and come off a successful preparation with [four wins out of their six preparation matches](https://www.nicepremium.fr/ogcn-football/matchs-amicaux-avant-benfica-logc-nice-est-pret/).
On the opposing side, a tough contender stands against Hicham Boudaoui’s teammates: Benfica Lisbon. The Portuguese are veterans of European competitions. Last season, the Lisbon club reached the round of 16 in the Champions League, having notably eliminated AS Monaco along the way, before being ousted at this stage by FC Barcelona. During this transfer window, Richard Rios, a young Colombian prodigy, and Franjo Ivanovic, [who scored twice against the Eagles](https://www.nicepremium.fr/ogcn-football/ligue-europa-cest-deja-fini-pour-logc-nice/) in the Europa League last year. Finally, Angel Di Maria, a former PSG star, left the club at the end of his contract.
Unfortunately, **this match will not be broadcast on a traditional channel** in France. *Canal +*, which holds the TV rights to the Champions League, can broadcast the competition only from the playoffs onward. As a result, the match can be found on a digital platform (*solidsports.com*). **It will cost €7.95** to watch this clash. This will likely also be the case for the return match next week.
## Evann Guessand out
Will he play or not? This was the burning question among Nice supporters in recent days. The verdict has fallen, Evann Guessand will not be on the field this Wednesday against Benfica. Florian Maurice, Nice’s sporting director, confirmed the news at the start of the week. Officially, the Ivorian striker is hampered by a knee issue and is not in shape to compete in this clash. Courted by several clubs, the young striker’s mind might be elsewhere.
For this match, Franck Haise will also be without Mohamed Abdelmonem and Youssouf Ndayishimiye, who are injured. The two defenders are still recovering. Hit in the foot during preparation, Mohamed-Ali Cho is hoped to play, although the winger remains uncertain. Finally, Sofiane Diop and Pablo Rosario should make their return. The former has resumed team training, as has the latter. Although possibly leaving, the Dutch midfielder remains for the moment in the plans of OGC Nice’s coach.
On the other side, Benfica Lisbon will be able to rely on experienced players like Argentine defender Nicolas Otamendi, or Norwegian midfielder Fredrik Aursnes. However, Bruma and Alexander Bah, who are injured, are out for this match.
## The probable line-ups:
**OGC Nice**: Diouf – Mendy, Bah, Dante (C) – Clauss, Boudaoui, Sanson, Bard – Bouanani, Moffi, Jansson
**Benfica**: Trubin – Dedic, Silva, Otamendi (C), Dahl – Aursnes, Rios – Barrenechea, Barreiro, Aktürkoglu – Pavlidis.
