Despite being dominant, AS Monaco stumble against Benfica

They gave it their all. At the end of a match in which they dominated and took the lead, the AS Monaco players drew here at the Estádio da Luz (3-3), but unfortunately lost on aggregate to Benfica and were thus eliminated from this Champions League campaign. Recap ✍️

The context 📅

Beaten by Benfica in the first leg at the Stade Louis-II (0-1), the Rouge et Blanc were thus playing for qualification for the round of 16 this Tuesday evening at Benfica’s stadium. It was a task that promised to be tough, since the Monegasques were facing several major absences in their squad, particularly in midfield. In addition, Adi Hütter’s men had already lost their last two matches against the Lisbon club this season.

The XI 👥

For this return leg, the Austrian coach had to do without his captain., Denis Zakaria, and right back Vanderson (suspended) and therefore chose a 3-5-2 system, where Lamine Camara would be accompanied by Maghnes Akliouche and Eliesse Ben Seghir in the Monégasque midfield. While Breel Embolo, leading the line, would be supported by Takumi Minamino. Finally, Wilfried Singo made his return to central defense.

The scenario 🎞

Kick-off took place in a packed Estádio da Luz, to which nearly 400 Monaco supporters had made the trip. The match was lively from the start, with a header from Leandro Barreiro stopped by Radoslaw Majecki (2′). Monaco responded through Breel Embolo and Eliesse Ben Seghir but the latter did not find the target (4′), and there was no more luck for Krépin Diatta, whose volley was stopped by Anatoliy Trubin (7′).

Taki’ to keep hope alive

After these first intense minutes, the match gradually dropped in intensity and Benfica took advantage to score the first goal through Kerem Aktürkoglu on a cross from Vangelis Pavlidis (1-0, 22′). It was an opening goal against the run of play to which the Monegasques reacted with a header from the Swiss striker off the post (32′). But a few seconds later, Takumi Minamino managed to beat the opposing goalkeeper with a shot from a tight angle to keep hope alive (1-1, 32′).

ALORS PEUT-ÊTRE ?

Menés, les Monégasques reviennent au score grâce à Minamino 💥#SLBASM pic.twitter.com/NunpOW7nJF

— CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) February 18, 2025

Ben Seghir gives the Monégasques the advantage

The Rouge et Blanc pushed hard at the end of the first half but Breel Embolo did not find the target (45+3′). Then, just after the restart, Eliesse Ben Seghir distinguished himself with a powerful strike but it was deflected by Trubin (47′). The Moroccan international would then be rewarded a few minutes later thanks to a curling attempt that ended up in the back of the net (1-2, 51′)! The tie was this level on aggregate.

BEN SEGHIR DONNE LES COMMANDES À MONACO ☄️

À souligner une super feinte d'Embolo après un très bon travail de l'excellent Maghnes Akliouche 💫#SLBASM | #UCL pic.twitter.com/tHHUl5jHX1

— CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) February 18, 2025

Eight crazy minutes

Now behind, Benfica went back on the attack and Alvaro Carreras saw his curling shot brush past Majecki’s goal (57′), before Zeki Amdouni tried a powerful strike that the Monaco goalkeeper managed to deflect (61′). Unfortunately, he could do nothing when a penalty in favor of the Lisbon team was awarded. Their Greek striker, Vangelis Pavlidis, was clinical to beat the Pole (2-2, 76′).

Adi Hütter decided to change the system to get back in front on the scoreboard. George Ilenikhena came on, and after 46 seconds of play, the young striker was decisive on his first touch (2-3, 81′)! However, Benfica do not give up and equalized again thanks to Orkun Kökçü who deflected the ball into Majecki’s goal (3-3, 84′).

𝗚𝗘𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗘 𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗞𝗛𝗘𝗡𝗔 !!!!

L'AS Monaco reprend les devants 🔥🔥🔥

81' | 2⃣-3⃣ #SLBASM pic.twitter.com/uX2hsny2Cn

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) February 18, 2025

On to the league

Benfica then thought they had another penalty, but it was cancelled by VAR (95′). The additional time was passing and the Rouge et Blanc continued to push, without success however, and were unfortunately eliminated from this Champions League campaign at the end of a match where Monaco’s domination was clear. Their next match will be Saturday (5 p.m.) away to Lille.

Key moments 🎥

2′: Barreiro’s header stopped by Majecki
4′: Embolo goes down in the box but then Ben Seghir misses the target
7′: Trubin saves from Diatta’s volley
22′: Pavlidis’ cross is cut out by Aktürkoglu (1-0)
32′: Embolo’s header hits the post after Diatta’s cross
32′: Minamino equalizes from a tight angle (1-1)
45+3′: Embolo misses the target on a pass from Akliouche
47′: Ben Seghir’s shot is deflected by Trubin
51′: Ben Seghir doubles the lead on an Akliouche cross (1-2)
57′: Carreras’ curling shot is off-target
61′: Amdouni’s shot is deflected by Majecki
76′: A penalty is converted by Pavlidis (2-2)
81′: Ilenikhena goes in alone on goal and to beat Trubin (2-3)
84′: Kökçü deflects the ball into Majecki’s goal (3-3)
95′: A penalty for Benfica is waved off by VAR

📋 Match details:

Tuesday, Feburary 19 (21:00) – Estádio da Luz

🇪🇺 Champions League – Second leg: Benfica 3-3 AS Monaco

Halftime: 1-1

Goals: Aktürkoglu (22′), Pavlidis (76′, pen), Kökçü (84′) for Benfica; Minamino (32′), Ben Seghir (51′), Ilenikhena (81′) for AS Monaco

Bookings: Barreiro (67′), Amdouni (71′) for Benfica; Akliouche (62′) for AS Monaco

Benfica: Trubin – Araújo, Antonio Silva, Otamendi ©, Carreras – Aursnes, Barreiro, Kökçü (Rego, 87′) – Aktürkoglu (Dahl, 58′), Pavlidis (Belotti, 87′), Schjelderup (Amdouni, 58′)

Substitutes: Soares, Amdouni, Cabral, Belotti, Prestianni, Dahl, Félix, Santos, Bajrami, Rego, Prioste, Freitas

Manager: Bruno Lage

AS Monaco : Majecki – Diatta, Singo, Kehrer ©, Mawissa (Ilenikhena, 80′) C.Henrique (Ouattara, 80′) – Camara, Akliouche, Ben Seghir – Embolo (Biereth, 65′), Minamino (Michal, 87′)

Substitutes: Köhn, Lienard, Ouattara, Salisu, Bouabré, Coulibaly, Diop, Ilenikhena, Michal, Biereth

Manager: Adi Hütter