- Benfica are on a five-game winning streak
- Monaco have lost three of their last four Champions League matches
- Recommended bet: Benfica to win

The Champions League knockout round play-off tie between Benfica and Monaco hangs in the balance, but it is the Portuguese side who hold the advantage ahead of the second leg.

The Lisbon Eagles ran out 1-0 winners away to Monaco last Wednesday, with in-form Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis putting them in a strong position as they target a place in the competition's last 16.

Monaco, however, will be determined to fight back in Lisbon and should be in high spirits after they destroyed Nantes 7-1 in their latest Ligue 1 fixture on Saturday.

Team news

Benfica have a handful of absentees to deal with heading into this game, with Tomas Araujo, Fredrik Aursnes, Angel Di Maria and Renato Sanches among those expected to miss out.

Al-Musrati is suspended for the visitors after he was sent off in the first leg, while Monaco forward Mika Biereth will be looking to build on his hat-trick against Nantes at the weekend.

The stats

Benfica are on a five-game winning sequence in all competitions, having won a Champions League contest against Juventus as part of that run.

As for Monaco, they have lost three of their last four matches in the Champions League, drawing blanks in each of those defeats against Arsenal, Inter and Benfica.

That said, Monaco have scored 12 goals in their last four matches in all competitions, thrashing Nantes 7-1 in Ligue 1 last time out.

Pavlidis has been in fine form in this season's Champions League, bagging six goals in the competition, including one against Monaco in the league phase.

Prediction

It sometimes pays to keep it simple in football betting and Benfica look a solid option to beat Monaco in Lisbon.

They were 1-0 winners in the first leg at the Stade Louis II and were in control of that game even before Al-Musrati was sent off after 52 minutes.

Indeed, the Portuguese side have given a great account of themselves in this season's Champions League, beating the likes of Atletico Madrid and Juventus, while they came excruciatingly close to beating Barcelona in a thrilling 5-4 defeat.

With Pavlidis in form in this competition, Benfica undoubtedly have the attacking firepower to get over the line in this game and they are worthwhile favourites.

The visitors will have boosted their confidence with that 7-1 mauling of Nantes last time out, but there will be a completely different dynamic to this fixture with Benfica more robust at the back.

Monaco have lost three of their last four matches in this competition, drawing blanks against Arsenal and Inter in the process, so they could struggle to break down a Benfica side with their sights set on the last 16.

Back Benfica to win at 4/6 with LiveScore Bet.

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