Benfica manager Bruno Lage has highlighted Richard Ríos’s leadership as a key asset he can bring to the team, ahead of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League against Nice. The first leg is set for Wednesday, August 6, at 14:00 local time, with the match taking place at Allianz Riviera.
Ríos has arrived in Europe and is preparing for his third continental club competition in 2025. He previously played for Palmeiras in the Copa Libertadores group stage and the Club World Cup. Now he’s stepping into the Champions League with Benfica, following his impressive early showing in the Super Cup, where he started and confronted Sporting’s physical style with a strong, determined presence.
“People talk about profiles, but Ríos, and almost all the players we’ve signed, are players with leadership who can increase that sporting aggression that we felt was missing in our team. This is the path we must follow to build our squad,” Lage said.
Benfica will face Nice, one of last season’s surprise packages in Ligue 1, who finished fourth with 60 points and are coached by Franck Haise. Lage underscored that the match is important but not decisive, since it is a two-legged tie.
The away leg will be played at Allianz Riviera, as Benfica eyes progression to the next stage of Europe’s top club competition. If Ríos quickly establishes his influence on and off the pitch, Benfica could gain momentum and bolster their ambitions for a deep run in the Champions League while continuing to strengthen their domestic campaign.