AS Monaco – Benfica

In the Monaco vs Benfica match-up, it is extremely difficult to determine a favourite

Monaco and Benfica, as well as some of the participants in the other pairs of knockout matches, have already played each other in the general stage of the Champions League. The first leg of the tournament took place on 27 November 2024 at the Stade Louis II. Quotes before that match were offered almost identical to today's. However, in the status of an underdog at a foreign stadium, the Portuguese club managed to prove themselves from the best side. After losing the first half 0-1, Benfica equalised at the start of the second half, and after Singo was sent off in the Monegasque team, managed to emerge victorious in an easy "shootout" - 3:2. At this point, Monaco has certainly not become stronger. The team often loses to opponents of any class, and the strong - losing with a crushing score. Only in the last two weeks, Inter and PSG defeat the Monegasques with a score of 3:0 and 4:1 respectively. Benfica have been without such upsets. Only three times in more than half of the season the Reds have lost to their opponents by two goals.In the overall Champions League stage Benfica finished next to Monaco, but with a better goal difference. Bookmakers have identified the guests as favourites for the upcoming meeting, offering odds of 2.32 on their victory. Monaco in the last round of Ligue 1 got four goals from PSG for the second time in the season. Another setback dropped the Monegasques to fourth place in the standings, which is borderline in the Champions League zone. After the first meeting of the season with Benfica, the Monegasques have won only five of their fifteen official fixtures, and can really only boast a victory over Aston Villa in the penultimate round of the general stage of the Champions League. On what basis, with these results, is Monaco being suggested as favourites? Benfica took part in the most entertaining game of the current Champions League in mid-January, losing 4-5 to Barcelona. Since then, the Eagles have recovered and are coming into Monaco on a run of three straight wins, one of which came in Turin against Juventus. In the league, Benfica have closed the gap on Sporting, so the mood of its players before the match at Louis II can be confidently considered combative.