- Benfica won 3-2 at Monaco during the league phase
- Both sides finished the league phase on 13 points
- Recommended bet: Benfica draw no bet

Both Monaco and Benfica finished the league phase of the Champions League on 13 points and the pair will now battle it out for a spot in the last 16, with the first leg of their tie taking place on Wednesday. 

Monaco head coach Adi Hutter will be keen to make the most of home advantage and build up a lead ahead of a trip to Lisbon, but the form of the sides suggests that it is actually Bruno Lage’s Eagles that are the likelier to win at the Stade Louis II.. 

Team news

Jordan Teze is a doubt, while Folarin Balogun, Lamine Camara, George Ilenikhena and Wilfried Singo make up a lengthy injury list for Monaco, who will also be without suspended defender Christian Mawissa. 

Alexander Bah and Manu Silva look set to miss out for Benfica after both being forced off at the weekend, but Angel Di Maria and Arthur Cabral could return to the squad. 

The stats

Monaco lost three of their final four league-phase matches.

Benfica’s only away loss in the league phase came at Bayern Munich.

Vangelis Pavlidis has netted seven goals in his last five appearances for the Eagles.

Benfica have won 10 and lost just three of their last 15 away games.

Monaco have won only five of their last 16 matches in all competitions.

Prediction

This pair have already met once this season, with Benfica prevailing 3-2 at Monaco during the league phase, and, despite the stakes being raised with a place in the last 16 up for grabs, the Eagles are fancied to overcome the added pressure and secure a repeat result. 

Lage’s side ended the league phase with a 2-0 win at Juventus and they impressed on their travels throughout the opening round, their sole loss being a narrow 1-0 defeat at Bayern Munich. 

Monaco, meanwhile, struggled for consistency during the league phase. Their most impressive victories came against Barcelona, who were reduced to 10 men after just 10 minutes, and Aston Villa, who put in arguably their flattest ever performance under Unai Emery. 

Following their defeat by Benfica, Hutter’s side were comfortably beaten by Arsenal and Inter Milan to make it three losses in their final four matches of the league phase, which means it is the visitors that are the form side coming into this first leg. 

Benfica, who have won 10 and lost just three of their last 15 away matches, have enough talent in Angel Di Maria, Vangelis Pavlidis and Orkan Kokcu to hurt a depleted Monaco, who will be without at least five potential starters on Wednesday. 

The Portuguese outfit look a big price to secure a first-leg lead and are certainly worth backing. Although it could pay to keep the draw on side given Monaco have won four of their last five home matches. 

Back Benfica draw no bet at 11/10 with LiveScore Bet

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