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Football

21 July 2025, 10h49

Champions League

Champions League Trophy

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Football First Team Champions League Draw UEFA
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DRAW

Benfica will face Nice (France) in the third qualifying round for the 2025/26 Champions League group stage. The draw took place on Monday, July 21, at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Nice, coached by Frenchman Franck Haise, finished Ligue 1 2024/25 in 4th place with 60 points, just 1 point behind 3rd-placed Monaco (61) and 5 points behind 2nd-placed Marseille (65). The champion was PSG, which accumulated a total of 84 points.

Forwards Evann Guessand and Terem Moffi and left-back Melvin Bard are some of the standout players at the southern French club, alongside Dante, the experienced Brazilian international center back.

In Monday's draw, Benfica was joined by Feyenoord (Netherlands) and Club Brugge (Belgium) as seeded teams, as well as Rangers (Scotland)/Panathinaikos (Greece), who will face each other in the second qualifying round.

The French team Nice, the Turkish team Fenerbahçe, the winner of Viktoria Plzen-Servette, or the winner of Brann-Salzburg, matches relating to the second qualifying round, still to be played, were the possible opponents.

The third qualifying round for the Champions League group stage will be played on August 5/6 (first leg) and August 12 (second leg).

If they qualify, Benfica will play in the play-off on August 19/20 (first leg) and August 26/27 (second leg).

3rd qualifying round
1st leg
Date		 Match 2nd leg
Date
5 or 6/08
Nice-Benfica
 12/08
5 or 6/08
Brann or Salzburg-Club Brugge
 12/08
5 or 6/08
Rangers or Panathinaikos-Viktoria Plzen or Servette
 12/08
5 or 6/08
Feyenoord-Fenerbahçe
 12/08

IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

  • July 21: draw for the third qualifying round

  • July 22/23 and 29/30: second qualifying round matches

  • August 4: playoff draw

  • August 5/6 and 12: third qualifying round matches

  • August 19/20 and 26/27: playoff matches

  • August 28: league phase draw

  • September 16 to 18: matches of matchday 1 of the league phase

Text: Editorial Staff
Photos: UEFA
Last update: Monday, July 21, 2025

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