Benfica suffers, but draws with Monaco and goes to the round of 16 of the Champions League
In a six-goal game, Bruno Lage’s team takes the lead, is turned around, but manages two comebacks and secures qualification
Summary
It was with sweat and a barrage of goals that Benfica managed to advance to the round of 16 of the 2024/25 Champions League. The team led by Bruno Lage, formerly of Botafogo, drew 3-3 with Monaco on Tuesday and secured a place in the playoffs after winning the first leg 1-0. Kökçü, Pavlidis and Aktürkoglu scored for the hosts, and Minamino, Akliouche and Ilenikhena scored for the visitors.
BARCELONA OR LIVERPOOL
Benfica will find out their opponent in the round of 16 next Friday, when UEFA draws the matches for the next phase. However, there is already a certainty that they will face a tough challenge: the Portuguese team’s rival will be Liverpool or Barcelona, who have the best campaigns in the league phase.
GOALS AND MORE GOALS
Benfica arrived at the Estádio da Luz with the chance to draw and secure a place in the round of 16, but managed to take the lead after a good play by Pavlidis, finished by Aktürkoglu. Monaco quickly equalized and went into the second half needing a comeback, which came through Ben Seghir in the sixth minute. With the match going into extra time, Benfica sought to equalize, which came after a precise penalty kick by Pavlidis in the 31st minute. Five minutes later, Monaco took the lead again, through Ilenikhena, but the Portuguese came back soon after, with the decisive goal by Kökçü.
