Benfica secured a crucial 1-0 away victory over Monaco in the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase playoff, thanks to a well-taken goal by Vangelis Pavlidis. The Greek striker’s finish proved decisive, while Monaco’s task was made even harder after Al Musrati was sent off early in the second half.
Match Recap: How It Happened
First Half: Missed Chances for Both Sides
The opening 45 minutes saw both teams create opportunities, but neither could find the breakthrough. Maghnes Akliouche came close for Monaco, while Álvaro Carreras also had a promising effort. However, Benfica’s defense remained solid, and Radoslaw Majecki, Monaco’s goalkeeper, ensured the hosts stayed level heading into the break.
Second Half: Pavlidis Breaks the Deadlock
Benfica wasted no time after the restart and struck within three minutes of the second half. Pavlidis received the ball in a tight position but managed to delicately lift it over Majecki, giving the visitors a deserved lead.
Monaco Down to 10 Men
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts just four minutes later when Al Musrati received a second yellow card for dissent, leaving Monaco with 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Benfica attempted to extend their advantage, with Pavlidis denied a second goal by Majecki. Despite their numerical superiority, the Portuguese giants had to settle for a single-goal victory, which still puts them in a strong position for next week’s second leg in Lisbon.
Key Talking Points
1. Benfica’s Away Form on the Rise
With this victory, Benfica have now won three consecutive Champions League away games—a feat they last achieved in the 1989-90 season. Their dominance was evident as they recorded 23 shots, their most in a Champions League away match since managing 25 against Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2010.
2. Pavlidis’ European Brilliance
The Greek forward continued his impressive goal-scoring form, netting his sixth goal in this Champions League campaign. Only Antonis Antoniadis (10 goals in 1970-71) has scored more in a single European Cup/Champions League season among Greek players.
3. Monaco’s Struggles Against Portuguese Opposition
Monaco’s defeat means they have now lost seven of their nine Champions League matches against Portuguese teams, highlighting their historical struggles in these encounters.
4. Antonio Silva Breaks Cristiano Ronaldo’s Record
Despite the loss, Monaco’s Antonio Silva achieved a milestone by becoming the youngest Portuguese player to make 20 Champions League appearances at 21 years and 105 days, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s previous record (21 years, 254 days).
What’s Next?
Second Leg in Lisbon (Tuesday, February 20, 2024)
Benfica take a crucial lead back to Portugal, where they will look to finish the job in front of their home fans. Can Monaco pull off a comeback despite being a man down for much of the first leg? The second leg promises to be a tense battle.
