Benfica 3-3 Monaco (4-3 agg): Portuguese giants edge through after six-goal thriller

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Orkun Kokcu’s late goal proved decisive as Benfica drew 3-3 with Monaco to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League with a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Leading 1-0 from the first leg, Benfica went ahead in the 22nd minute in Lisbon on Tuesday.

A close-range effort from Kerem Akturkoglu broke the deadlock, after he latched onto a fine pass from Vangelis Pavlidis.

Yet Monaco responded 10 minutes later through Takumi Minamino’s simple finish.

The turnaround was complete when Eliesse Ben Seghir dispatched a stunning effort, only for Pavlidis to coolly convert a penalty to restore parity.

Monaco instantly took the initiative again through substitute George Ilenikhena, but in the 84th minute, Kokcu popped up with the equaliser that would prove enough to send Benfica through, as he turned in from Alvaro Carreras’ teasing delivery.

#UCL round of 16! pic.twitter.com/QWgdKzIgzv

— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) February 18, 2025

Data Debrief: Benfica a good bet for entertainment

Benfica’s 10 Champions League matches this season have seen 36 goals scored (21F 15A), an average of 3.6 goals per match. Only in 2022-23 have Benfica’s matches seen more goals per game in a single season in the competition – 39 goals in 10 matches, 3.9 per match.

This match featured 25 shots (10 for Benfica, 15 for Monaco), with the hosts creating 1.9 expected goals to the visitors’ 1.26.

Pavlidis is always one to watch for the Portuguese giants, too. He has been involved in nine goals in 10 Champions League matches this season (seven goals, two assists), surpassing Joao Mario’s tally of eight in 2022-23 to become the Benfica player with the most goal involvements in a single season in the competition.