Overview
Monaco are in impressive form in the 2024-2025 Champions League. They are unbeaten in their first four matches, winning three against Barcelona, Red Star Belgrade and Bologna. Before the fifth match, the Louis II team ranked third, behind only Liverpool and Sporting CP.
Coach Adi Hutter's team will aim for another victory when they host Benfica at home. Monaco are extremely confident, having won all three of their last matches (against Bologna, Strasbourg, Brest), scoring seven goals and conceding just three.
The French team currently has a squad of young stars with great potential such as Ben Seghir, Akliouche and Ilenikhena. These are all names that are shining to help Monaco win many important victories this season.
As for Benfica, they have just shown their strength with a 7-0 victory over Estrela in the Portuguese national cup. Before that, coach Bruno Lage's team also defeated arch-rivals Porto 4-1 to shorten the gap with their opponents on the domestic championship rankings.
However, fans of the home team Da Luz still have reason to worry as the home team has lost 2 consecutive matches in the Champions League against Feyenoord and Bayern Munich. They only scored 1 goal in these 2 matches but conceded 4 goals.
The two teams have met twice before, both in the 2014-15 Champions League group stage. The Portuguese side held their opponents to a 0-0 draw in France before winning 1-0 in the return leg.
Human resources situation
Monaco are still dealing with injury problems with Krepin Diatta, Edan Diop and Folarin Balogun still out. Thilo Kehrer will continue at centre-back, while Breel Embolo leads the attack.
On the other side of the front line, Kerem Akturkoglu was a substitute last weekend but will start in the Champions League. Di Maria will also appear in attack alongside Vangelis Pavlidis.
Expected lineup:
Monaco: Majecki, Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Henrique, Zakaria, Camara, Akliouche, Golovin, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Embolo.
Benfica: Trubin, Fernandez, Otamendi, Araujo, Bah, Florentino, Aursnes, Akturkoglun, Kokcu, Di Maria, Pavlidis.
The match between Monaco and Benfica takes place at 3:00 a.m. on November 28 (Vietnam time).
