In similar fashion to the entertaining league phase matchup between these two – which saw Benfica emerge 3-2 victors – the match started at a ferocious pace, with Álvaro Carreras hitting a bouncing strike wide of the mark with just three minutes gone.
The visitors looked mostly on top, but their wastefulness in promising attacking situations gave Monaco a boost. As it was, the precocious Maghnes Akliouche notched their first shot on target with a powerful drive from an angle that forced Anatoliy Trubin into a smart save.
Spurred on by the lively Akliouche and his side-kick Alexander Golovin, Monaco seized control of the ball, but struggled to breach Benfica’s area until the away side finally awoke from their slumber just a few minutes from the end of the half.
Although neither Carreras nor Kerem Aktürkoğlu could convert to prevent a goalless half-time scoreline, they continued their momentum into the second half, and duly broke the deadlock just three minutes in.
Tomás Araújo played the ball through, and the powerful Pavlidis outmuscled Mohammed Salisu and sent a perfect chip over a helpless Radosław Majecki in the Monaco net.
And the hosts’ evening almost immediately deteriorated further when Al-Musrati was shown a second yellow card for instructing referee Maurizio Mariani to book a Benfica player.
The Eagles were predictably all over Monaco after that, and Pavlidis was unfortunate not to beat Majecki for a second after Andreas Schjelderup’s cross.
Adi Hütter had clearly instructed his men to ensure that the deficit remained at one during the final 20 minutes, and Bruno Lage was ultimately disappointed that his side couldn’t take advantage and extend their lead in the tie.
Playing in the UCL knockout stages for the first time since they reached the semi-finals in 2016/17, Monaco were far from good enough even prior to the red card, and now have it all to do in next Tuesday’s second leg.
Benfica will be confident of seeing out the job at the Estádio da Luz, but will be slightly apprehensive about the possibility of facing Barcelona in the last 16 after their remarkable 5-4 defeat during the league phase.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica)
