Monaco will face Benfica at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday night in their Champions League clash. Despite suffering back-to-back defeats in Ligue 1 at the end of October, Monaco have bounced back impressively with a thrilling 3-2 victory against Brest over the weekend. Currently sitting in second place in the Ligue 1 standings, Monaco will be looking to make a statement against Benfica. They have been in excellent form, securing a 3-1 win against Strasbourg before the international break and a gritty 1-0 victory against Bologna in their last Champions League outing.
However, Monaco will be without Florian Balogun, who missed the match against Brest and is expected to be absent again. Mamadou Coulibaly has also yet to make an appearance this season. On a positive note, Lamine Camara, who served a one-match domestic suspension, could make a full return to the squad. Breel Embolo, who opened his Champions League account against Red Star last month, will lead Monaco’s attack.
Benfica, on the other hand, are enjoying a purple patch despite facing a tough battle to reclaim their domestic crown. They secured an impressive 4-1 victory against Porto before the international break and followed it up with a dominant 7-0 win against Estrela in the Taco de Portugal. With five wins in their last six matches across all competitions, Benfica have shown a clinical edge in the final third.
Benfica will be without Marko Grujic, Ivan Jaime, Ivan Marcano, and Zaidu due to long-term injuries. Wendell, a former Bayer Leverkusen star, is also sidelined with a muscle injury. Angel Di Maria, who has scored five goals in his last two appearances, will play a key role for Benfica, while Nicolas Otamendi will anchor their defense.
In their previous meeting in November 2014, Benfica emerged victorious with a 1-0 win on home soil. Monaco have been impressive in the Champions League this season, collecting 10 points from their first four appearances. However, they have struggled to keep clean sheets at the Stade Louis II, recording just one in their last eight matches.
Considering Monaco’s defensive vulnerabilities and Benfica’s clinical form, this Champions League clash promises to be an exciting battle. Both teams are expected to score in what could be an enjoyable midweek encounter.
Odds: 2/3
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
