A below-par Benfica fended off a spirited fightback from Monaco in an exhilarating draw in Lisbon, securing their spot in the Champions League last 16.
Vangelis Pavlidis’ stunning strike in Monaco last week handed the Portuguese team a 1-0 advantage in the play-off first leg, but it was the Ligue 1 side who dominated at the Estadio da Luz.
Monaco’s early penalty claims were dismissed before Krepin Diatta tested Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin with a brilliant save.
Despite a sluggish start, the hosts were handed a 22nd-minute opener.
Monaco defender Wilfried Singo lost his footing under pressure, gifting the ball to the in-form Pavlidis, who drove across the goal for Kerem Aktürkoglu to tap in on the slide.
To their credit, Monaco responded strongly and nearly equalized when Breel Embolo’s header struck the post and trickled across the goal line.
Less than a minute later, they found the net as ex-Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino slotted a shot inside Trubin’s near post.
Monaco should have leveled the tie at 2-2 in first-half stoppage time, but Embolo blazed his effort over after being set up by Maghnes Akliouche.
The second half began with Eliesse Ben Seghir forcing Trubin into another excellent save, but moments later, the Ukrainian keeper could only watch as the Moroccan curled a shot into the bottom corner.
Yet, as before, Monaco gifted Benfica another opportunity to reclaim the lead. Captain Thilo Kehrer fouled Fredrik Aursnes, and Pavlidis calmly converted the resulting penalty for his seventh goal of the season.
Monaco pulled it back to 3-2 on the night with nine minutes remaining through substitute George Ilenikhena, but three minutes later, Orkun Kokcu deftly flicked Alvaro Fernandez’s precise cross past Monaco keeper Radoslaw Majecki to level the score and seal a thrilling 4-3 aggregate victory.
