Benfica visit the Stade Louis II for the second time this season as they face Monaco in the first leg of their Champions League play-off on Wednesday night.
Wilfried Singo’s dismissal before the hour mark played a crucial role in Benfica’s eventual victory during the league phase, even if Monaco took a 2-1 lead while down to ten men. Arthur Cabral and Zeki Amdouni struck in the final few minutes of the contest to steal all three points for the visitors.
The two sides endured mixed league phase campaigns on the whole and both ended with 13 points before they were paired against one another with a place in the round of 16 at stake.
Monaco are starting to suffer domestically after a promising start to the season and merely hold out hope of qualifying for this competition next season, while Benfica are four points behind Sporting CP in their quest to reclaim the Primeira Liga title.
The hosts are set to be without impressive young midfielder Lamine Camara on Wednesday, so Soungoutou Magassa, who scored his first senior goal against Benfica in the league phase, could be included in Hutter’s XI.
The Monaco boss has plenty of concerns in defence, with Christian Mawissa suspended after seeing red against Inter. Singo and Jordan Teze are injury doubts.
Mika Biereth has hit the ground running since joining from Sturm Graz in the winter, and he’s in contention for his first Champions League start at his new club. Folarin Balogun and George Ilenikhena are both unlikely to feature.
Monaco predicted lineup vs Benfica (4-2-3-1): Majecki; Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Henrique; Zakaria, Magassa; Akliouche, Golovin, Ben Seghir; Biereth.
Angel Di Maria is a concern heading into Wednesday’s first leg after he missed Benfica’s victory at the weekend. However, the veteran winger is merely dealing with a minor knock and is expected to be available. Arthur Cabral should also be involved, but the striker is unlikely to make the starting XI given the form of Vangelis Pavlidis.
Alexander Bah and Manu Silva both suffered long-term knee injuries against Moreirense so will be out of action for the next few months.
Benfica predicted lineup vs Monaco (4-3-3): Trubin; Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Fernandez; Luis, Aursnes, Kokcu; Di Maria, Pavlidis, Schjelderup.
