Champions League Heartbreak: Monaco’s Defensive Lapses Prove Costly in Benfica Thriller

In a pulsating Champions League knockout play-off second leg, AS Monaco’s European dreams were dashed despite a valiant 3-3 draw against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz. The Portuguese side advanced 4-3 on aggregate, capitalizing on Monaco’s defensive mishaps.

Adi Hütter’s men needed to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit and started brightly, creating several chances. However, a Wilfried Singo error led to Kerem Aktürkoğlu opening the scoring for Benfica. Monaco responded through Takumi Minamino, leveling the match before halftime.

The second half saw Monaco take the lead through Eliesse Ben Seghir, but their joy was short-lived. A controversial penalty, converted by Vangelis Pavlidis, swung the tie back in Benfica’s favor. Despite George Ilenikhena’s late equalizer, another defensive lapse allowed Orkun Kökçü to seal Benfica’s progression.

Standout performances came from Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche and Ben Seghir, who both scored 7/10 in our player ratings. However, defensive duo Thilo Kehrer and Wilfried Singo struggled, each earning a disappointing 3/10 for their error-prone displays.

This result ends Monaco’s Champions League campaign, leaving them to reflect on a night of missed opportunities and costly mistakes.