UEFA Champions League, Spherical 5, 27/11/24
AS Monaco’s unbeaten run on this 12 months’s version of the UEFA Champions League got here to an finish by the hands of a Benfica facet that needed to dig deep to beat the hosts, who performed a lot of the second half with 10 gamers.
The Match
Monaco dominated the opening exchanges with Aleksandr Golovin dominant and discovering his teammates runs. He began and (nearly) ended the transfer that gave Les Monégasques the lead with Eliesse Ben Seghir offering the crowning glory from Golovin’s deft chip into the centre.
The sport turned halfway by the primary half. Alvaro Carreras, already on a yellow, wasn’t handed a second for a powerful and late problem on Wilfried Singo. Indignant, Monaco’s protests resulted in three yellow playing cards, one in every of which was for ingo, and it was that one which got here again to chew them.
Breel Embolo nearly doubled Monaco’s lead early within the second half however on the flip, his well-hit shot struck the publish. Seconds later and Benfica had been degree due to Vangelis Pavlidis, who pounced on Caio Henrique’s under-hit header again to Radoslaw Majecki.
In fast succession, each groups then had the ball within the internet, however each objectives had been dominated out for a slender offside. Then got here the game-changing second with Singo despatched off for a second yellow card within the 58th minute. Monaco didn’t cower, as an alternative, they imposed their fashion on the sport and deservedly retook the lead by Soungoutou Magassa.
Nevertheless, they couldn’t maintain on. As legs drained, Benfica started to create possibilities and Ángel Di María was afforded an excessive amount of area. He used that area to lethal impact, firstly selecting out Alexander Bah to degree the scores earlier than then discovering Arthur Cabral, who accomplished the turnaround late on.
It is a crucial win for Benfica, who finish a two-game dropping run within the competitors. Monaco, in the meantime, succumb to their first defeat within the competitors, however stay within the prime eight, simply behind their subsequent opponent, Arsenal.
Monaco participant scores
Radoslaw Majecki – 6
Caio Henrique – 3
Returning to the beginning XI, he didn’t shine and was at fault for the primary two objectives for Benfica. It was his poor move again that modified the momentum on this tie, while it was additionally the Brazilian that didn’t do sufficient as Bah steamed in on the again publish to degree the scores late on.
Thilo Kehrer – 5
Wilfried Singo – 5
Vanderson – 5
Lamine Camara – 4
Denis Zakaria – 5
Eliesse Ben Seghir – 6
He might not have received the Golden Boy Award, handed to Lamine Yamal earlier at present, however he did shine on the night time. He was troublesome to comprise, significantly within the first half and was rewarded with a aim, though his affect did wane as the sport went on.
Aleksandr Golovin – 7
The Russian acquired his first aim involvement over the weekend and he was driving the wave of confidence right here, proving to be Monaco’s inventive fulcrum all through. It was an entire efficiency from Golovin however not one which was rewarded with the three factors.
Maghnes Akliouche – 6
Breel Embolo – 5
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