AS Monaco will meet Benfica in the Champions League play-off round, following the draw for the competition’s last 16.
The Monegasques, featuring Senegalese stars Lamine Camara and Krepin Diatta, will face the Portuguese side in what promises to be a thrilling two-legged encounter.
Having been drawn in a group with PSG and Benfica, Monaco will now have the opportunity to avenge a 3-2 loss to the Lisbon-based team that occurred during the group stage of this year’s competition.
This defeat on home soil has left Monaco eager for redemption, and under the leadership of coach Adi Hütter, they will look to overcome the Portuguese challenge and secure their place in the quarter-finals.
The first leg of the play-off will take place at the Stade Louis-II on either February 11 or 12, with the return leg scheduled for the following week on February 18 or 19.
The stakes could not be higher for Monaco, who, with the likes of Diatta and Camara, will be hoping to showcase their talents on the European stage.
Should Monaco manage to overcome Benfica, they would then face another formidable opponent in the next round, either Liverpool or Barcelona.
However, before any thoughts can turn to potential matchups with these giants, Monaco must first focus on their immediate challenge: defeating a Benfica side that has already demonstrated its defensive resilience.
For Monaco, this Champions League knockout stage clash represents a pivotal moment in their European campaign.
With high hopes and crucial Senegalese contributions in Diatta and Camara, the French club will look to advance beyond Benfica and secure a spot among Europe’s elite.
