AS Monaco fought valiantly in a thrilling second-leg playoff against Benfica, securing a 3-3 draw at the Estádio da Luz on the evening of Tuesday, February 18, but falling short on aggregate (0-1; 3-3). Despite their dominance and unwavering spirit, the Red and Whites bowed out of the Champions League in a match that had everything—drama, resilience, and a heartbreaking conclusion.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg at Stade Louis-II, Monaco arrived in Lisbon knowing they needed a strong performance to overturn the deficit. However, the challenge was made even steeper by key absences, including captain Denis Zakaria and right-back Vanderson. Coach Adi Hütter adjusted his tactics, opting for a 3-5-2 formation, with Lamine Camara, Maghnes Akliouche, and Eliesse Ben Seghir forming the midfield, while Breel Embolo led the attack alongside Takumi Minamino.
A charged atmosphere greeted the players, with nearly 400 Monaco supporters making the trip to Portugal. The match kicked off at a frenetic pace, with early chances for both sides. Breel Embolo and Eliesse Ben Seghir had openings for Monaco, but it was Benfica who struck first. Kerem Aktürkoglu found the net in the 22nd minute, latching onto a cross from Vangelis Pavlidis to put the hosts ahead.
Monaco responded almost immediately. Breel Embolo came agonizingly close with a header against the post, but just moments later, Minamino squeezed a shot past the keeper from a tight angle to level the score (1-1, 32’). Embolo had another golden chance before halftime but failed to convert.
After the break, Monaco came out firing, and their persistence paid off. Ben Seghir curled a stunning shot into the net to put the visitors ahead (1-2, 51’), bringing them back level on aggregate. The dream was alive.
However, Benfica, unwilling to surrender, pushed forward. Alvaro Carreras and Zeki Amdouni both tested Majecki, and in the 76th minute, the hosts were awarded a controversial penalty. Pavlidis made no mistake, bringing Benfica level at 2-2.
Hütter reacted boldly, bringing on George Ilenikhena in search of another goal. The impact was immediate—just 46 seconds after stepping onto the pitch, the 17-year-old striker finished brilliantly to restore Monaco’s lead (2-3, 81’). But the joy was short-lived. Benfica’s Orkun Kökçü deflected a shot into the Monaco goal just three minutes later (3-3, 84’), crushing the visitors’ hopes once again.
Deep into stoppage time, Benfica thought they had won another penalty, but VAR intervened, keeping Monaco’s faint hopes alive. The Red and Whites pushed until the final whistle, but despite their dominance and an inspired performance, the aggregate scoreline meant elimination. Although their Champions League journey ends here, Monaco exits with pride, having fought until the very last second. Their focus now turns to domestic competition, with a crucial clash against Lille on Saturday.
