Monaco 0-1 Benfica - UEFA Champions League result as Pavlidis gives Portuguese side narrow lead heading into second leg

Champions League / Knockout Round Play-offs
Stade Louis II / 12.02.2025
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PAVLIDIS STRIKES AGAIN TO GIVE BENFICA SECOND-LEG LEAD
Vangelis Pavlidis scored his fifth Uefa Champions League goal in three games as Benfica edged past Monaco to take a 1-0 lead into the second leg of their knockout phase play-off. 
Following an abysmal opening period, the Greece international broke the deadlock for the visitors just three minutes after the interval with an exquisite chip from a tight angle inside the box. 
Things went from bad to worse for Monaco just four minutes later as Moatasem Al Musrati was given a second yellow card after gesticulating to the referee that Benfica’s Alvaro Carreras should himself receive a second booking.
The remainder of the match was damage limitation for Adi Hutter’s men as the Portuguese side looked to capitalise on the man advantage and push for a second.
Benfica were largely wasteful but came closest to doubling their lead when Pavlidis was denied a second from close range by Radoslaw Majecki.
The side that comes out on top following next week's second leg in Lisbon will set up a last-16 match-up with either Liverpool or Barcelona.
Monaco will be without Al Musrati following his red card, as well as captain Denis Zakaria and Vanderson after they picked up a booking each. 
Meanwhile, former Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria may be ruled out for Bruno Lage’s men after going off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, just 21 minutes after coming on. 
Ahead of next week's second leg, Monaco will look to return to winning ways as they host Nantes in Ligue 1 while Benfica travel to Santa Clara.
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AROUND THE GROUNDS: FINAL SCORES
UEFA Champions League play-off round first leg
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BENFICA TAKE SLIM ADVANTAGE INTO SECOND LEG
Benfica will take a 1-0 lead back to Portugal for the second leg of the knockout phase play-off next week thanks to Pavlidis' goal shortly after the break.
There is work to do for Monaco who will be without Al Musrati following his red card, and Zakaria and Vanderson after they picked up a booking each.
Benfica have now won their last four matches in all competitions while Monaco have one just once in their last four.
The French side's poor run against Portuguese teams in the Champions League continues with their last victory against a Primeira Liga side coming in 1997.
The side who comes out on top following next week's tie in Lisbon will set up a last 16 match-up with either Liverpool or Barcelona.
Ahead of next week's second leg, Monaco will look to return to winning ways as they host Nantes in Ligue 1 while Benfica travel to Santa Clara.
90+7'
Whistle
90+7'
Whistle
FULL TIME: MONACO 0-1 BENFICA
Monaco survive late pressure to keep the deficit at just one but it is Benfica who take the advantage into the second leg in Lisbon next week thanks to Pavlidis' goal.
90+2'
90+2'
ZAKARIA TO MISS NEXT MATCH
There is a really nasty clash of heads between Belotti and Magassa with both players having eyes for the ball. It looks like both should be okay though.
Zakaria then goes into the book for clipping the heels of Otamendi and he will also miss the return leg. That was a really harsh one - it looked completely acccidental and didn't stop any kind of attack.
There will be six minutes added on at the end here.
88'
88'
BENFICA CAN'T FIND SECOND
Benfica are really pushing for a second but are denied once again as Aursnes' strike from the edge of the box following a cut-back from the left is block by Diatta.
Silva's header from the resulting corner is straight at Majecki.
87'
Injury
87'
Injury
DI MARIA OFF WITH INJURY
Benfica combine nicely in the right of the box to tee up Amdouni on the penalty spot but he scuffs his effort that would have been dragged wide had it not been blocked.
It's bad news though for the visitors as Di Maria, who was involved in the move, is down inside the box. Replays show him clutching his hamstring as he played a pass and Cabral is on in his place.
83'
83'
BALL POPS IN COLLISION
Kokcu runs on to a pull-back that dribbles to the edge of the box and despite Zakaria looking likely to reach it, the Benfica man still looks to fire home.
The players meet the ball at the exact same time in a collision that makes you wince. Both players are fine but the ball is not! Play is stopped as the ball pops and we will need a substitution.
79'
Card - Yellow
79'
Card - Yellow
VANDERSON TO MISS SECOND LEG
There are a couple more changes from Benfica as Amdouni and Belotti replace Pavlidis and Schjelderup.
Monaco right-back Vanderson goes into the book for a robust challenge on Kokcu and he will now miss the second leg in Lisbon.
78'
78'
CAN VISITORS CAPITALISE ON EXTRA MAN?
Kokcu scrambles his way into a shooting position on the edge of the box but he is stretching as he takes aim and his effort just bobbles through to Majecki.
Di Maria has a couple of corners in quick succession from Benfica's right. He works the second one short but it eventually runs out for a goal-kick.
74'
74'
BENFICA WASTING CHANCES
Kokcu digs out a tidy chipped ball from the edge of the area which plays Schjelderup into the left of the box, but his ball across the face of goal lacks quality and a good position is wasted.
Embolo is then slipped into the right of the Benfica box in a rare Monaco attack but he shows no intention of beating his man and just swings a boot at the ball. It is unsurprisingly blocked with ease.
70'
70'
BENFICA PUSH FOR SECOND
19-year-old Ben Seghir is Monaco’s top scorer in Ligue 1 this season so worth keeping an eye out on the impact he has on this one.
Di Maria goes for an audacious chipped through ball over the top with his first involvement but it has too much on it and runs through to the keeper.
68'
Substitution
68'
Substitution
DI MARIA ON FOR BENFICA
A Benfica corner comes to nothing but it might still be getting worse for Monaco...
Di Maria is coming on for the visitors as too is Barreiro in place of Araujo and Florentine, who was on a booking.
A double change for the hosts as well as Golovin and Akliouche make way for Ben Seghir and Minamino.
63'
63'
HUGE CHANCE FOR TWO
Pavlidis should have doubled his tally for the evening. Carreras is slipped down Benfica's left plays a low ball across the face of goal.
The striker opens his body and looks to tuck home on his right foot but it's straight at Majecki, who still reacts well to parry away.
61'
61'
BENFICA PUSHING FOR SECOND
Monaco are starting to look a bit exposed now. Aursnes is slipped into the right of the box and he can pull it across for Pavlidis.
The goalscorer takes aim but sees his shot blocked for a corner. He appeals for a handball but there is no chance.
The resulting corner drops to Otamendi inside the area but his hooked volley is sliced and goes spinning over.
58'
Substitution
58'
Substitution
BIERETH SACRIFICED FOLLOWING RED
Monaco eventually make the change to fill the gap in central midfield left by Al Musrati as Magassa comes on for Biereth.
Akturkoglu then plucks a long ball over the top out of the air with an exquisite first touch. The winger then pulls off a sensational roulette inside the box before striking on goal. The keeper turns it over but the flag then goes up anyway. It was tight!
55'
Card - Yellow
55'
Card - Yellow
ANOTHER BOOKING
After probably being the better side in the first half, Monaco have capitulated at the start of this second period.
They are a goal down and now a man down. It will be damage limitation for the remainder of this first leg you would have thought.
There is another yellow card as Benfica's Florentino goes into the book for a challenge on Embolo.
51'
Card - Red
51'
Card - Red
RED CARD! AL MUSRATI GIVEN SECOND YELLOW
Wow... I have never seen this before! Carreras, who is already on a yellow, has his arms round Embolo and bundles him to the floor.
Al Musrati, who is also on a second yellow, gestures to the referee that the Benfica man should receive a second yellow and in turn receives the booking himself and he's off!
48'
Goal
48'
Goal
GOAL! MONACO 0-1 BENFICA (PAVLIDIS)
Araujo plays a sweeping ball in behind the Monaco defence from right-back into the right of the box.
Pavlidis shrugs off Salisu before executing an exquisite right-footed chip over the onrushing Majecki from a narrow angle. A superb finish from Benfica's dangerman in recent weeks.