Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
Neither Monaco nor Benfica have been consistent in 2025, making this an unpredictable tie. While home advantage slightly favours Monaco, it's worth noting that Benfica won their last encounter (3:2) in November.
AS Monaco
After a solid win over Aston Villa (1:0), Monaco collapsed in two big fixtures, conceding six goals across losses to Inter Milan (0:3) and Paris Saint-Germain (1:4) while allowing a massive 6.33 xGA. However, they gained an attacking boost with new signing Mika Biereth, who has 4+1 in five games, including two goals in the Champions League group stage for Sturm Graz. Given their fragile defence, Monaco must attack to secure a result.
Benfica
Benfica face a defensive crisis, with key defenders Alexander Bah and Manu Silva suffering knee injuries in a 3:2 victory over Moreirense. With limited defensive options available, pressing high and attacking is likely their best strategy. On a positive note, Benfica haven’t failed to score in any match since January, with the team continuing to provide consistent attacking output.
AS Monaco vs Benfica Prediction
In the group-stage meeting, Monaco dominated the first half, but after Wilfried Singo’s red card, Benfica turned the game around (1.70 vs 3.03 in xG). Both teams have shaky defences and strong attacking threats, making it highly likely that we’ll see goals at both ends.
