Benfica vs Monaco: Preview, predictions and lineups
- Benfica claimed a vital 1-0 win in Monaco last week
- Ligue 1 side must claim victory away from home to have chance of progressing into last 16
- Visitors have multiple players suspended for second leg
Benfica have a 1-0 advantage to hold onto when they face Monaco in the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie.
As was the case in the league phase meeting between these two sides, Monaco were undone by their own ill-discipline as they went down to ten men with the score locked at 0-0.
Benfica eventually made the hosts pay amid a pretty drab affair, with Greek international Vangelis Pavlidis continuing his fine campaign by scoring the only goal of the first leg with a divine dink.
Monaco must win away from home to have a chance of making the round of 16, but they'll have to prevail with a number of players missing out through suspension and injury.
However, Tuesday's visitors did secure a huge win in Ligue 1 at the weekend. Adi Hutter's side benefitted from Nantes receiving an early red card on Saturday as they came from behind to win 7-1. Benfica, meanwhile, won their fifth game on the bounce in all competitions at Santa Clara.
Here's 90min's guide to Tuesday's Champions League play-off second leg.
What time does Benfica vs Monaco kick-off?
- Location: Lisbon, Portugal
- Stadium: Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica
- Date: Tuesday 18 January
- Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
- Referee: Glenn Nyberg (SWE)
- VAR: Rob Dieperink (NED
Benfica vs Monaco head-to-head results (all games)
- Benfica: 3 wins
- Monaco: 0 wins
- Draws: 1
- Last meeting: Monaco 0-1 Benfica (12 February 2024) - Champions League
Current form (all competitions)
Benfica | Monaco |
|---|---|
Santa Clara 0-1 Benfica - 15/02/25 | Monaco 7-1 Nantes - 15/02/25 |
Monaco 0-1 Benfica - 12/02/25 | Monaco 0-1 Benfica - 12/02/25 |
Inter 3-0 Monaco - 29/01/25 | PSG 4-1 Monaco - 07/02/25 |
Benfica 3-2 Moreirense - 08/02/25 | Monaco 4-2 Auxerre - 01/02/25 |
Estrela Amadora 2-3 Benfica - 02/02/25 | Inter 3-0 Monaco - 29/01/25 |
How to watch Benfica vs Monaco on TV - UK & US
Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports 2 |
United States | Paramount+ |
Canada | DAZN Canada |
Benfica team news
Angel Di Maria was forced off after entering the fray in the second half last week, and the veteran forward is expected to miss the second leg in Lisbon.
Renato Sanches has been out for some time with a thigh injury, while Tiago Gouveia and Fredrik Aursnes could also sit out. Florentino Luis serves his one-game suspension on Tuesday, with Leandro Barreiro poised to replace him in Lage's XI.
Alexander Bah and Manu Silva are out for the long haul after recently tearing their ACLs.
Benfica predicted lineup vs Monaco
Benfica predicted lineup vs Monaco (4-3-3): Trubin; Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Fernandez; Barreiro, Aursnes, Kokcu; Akturkoglu, Pavlidis, Schjelderup.
Monaco team news
Monaco have three players suspended on Tuesday night, including Al-Musrati. The January addition received two yellow cards in the first leg.
Vanderson and Denis Zakaria miss out due to yellow card accumulation.
The visitors are likely to be without Folarin Balogun again due to a shoulder injury, while Aleksandr Golovin is a new addition to the injury list. Wilfried Singo is poised to miss out with a hamstring issue, as are Jordan Teze and Soungoutou Magassa.
Young striker George Ilenikhena was back in action on Saturday following a spell out, recording a late brace off the bench.
Monaco predicted lineup vs Benfica
Monaco predicted lineup vs Benfica (4-2-3-1): Majecki; Teze, Kehrer, Mawissa, Henrique; Camara, Coulibaly; Akliouche, Minamino, Ben Seghir; Biereth.
Benfica vs Monaco score prediction
The two matches between the pair have ultimately been decided by red cards, with Monaco asserting impressive enough control in both before losing their way after going a man down.
Thus, there may still be something in this tie but Monaco have got a mountain to climb given their list of notable absentees. Benfica are far from healthy, too, and have proven to be fallible on home soil in the Champions League this term.
However, they should be able to keep the visitors at arm's length on Tuesday in a comfortable aggregate victory. Monaco are young and exciting, but not cut out to win these sorts of games just yet.
Prediction: Benfica 2-0 Monaco
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