Monaco vs Benfica prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-11-26 20:00.
[p]Monaco’s return to the UEFA Champions League (UCL) proper for the first time since 2018/19 has exceeded expectations as they’re unbeaten (W3, D1) in the league phase so far. They ended matchday four in third place after winning three of their first four games of a major European competition for the first time since 2005/06 in the UEFA Cup.[/p]
[p]Beating Bologna 1-0 on matchday four set them up nicely for the second half of the league phase and they’re now on a run of three straight wins in all competitions following Saturday’s 3-2 Ligue 1 victory over Brest at Stade Louis II. They’ve lost only once here this term (W6, D2) but have an underwhelming recent home record against Portuguese clubs (D2, L1).[/p]
[p]One of those draws was against Benfica in 2014, and Bruno Lage’s side will travel on the back of hammering Estrela 7-0 in the Portuguese Cup on Saturday. It’s been an even start to their UCL league phase (W2, L2) but they were in the bottom half after matchday four as they continue to chase a 50th UCL win. If they do so here, it will have taken them 137 games, the most of any side in the competition’s history to reach the 50-win mark.[/p]
[p]Although their last trip to France in this competition was a positive experience when they held PSG to a 1-1 draw in October 2022, they haven’t won a European game in France since beating Bordeaux 3-2 in March 2013 (D3, L3). Perhaps set pieces can help them break that sequence as four of their seven UCL goals this term (57%) have come from dead-ball situations – a competition high after matchday four.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Breel Embolo registered an assist in both of Monaco’s last two UCL games and also scored against Red Star Belgrade, his third club goal in a row to come between the 35th minute and half-time. Ángel Di María netted a hat-trick inside 20 minutes for Benfica against Estrela and only Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have assisted more UCL goals than his current tally of 36.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Six of the eight UCL games featuring these two sides this term saw at least one goal scored after the 80th minute.[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]