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Monaco
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 22, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Benfica

0-0

FT

Preview: Monaco vs. Benfica

Sports Mole looks ahead to Wednesday evening's Champions League group encounter between Monaco and Benfica.

As far as Benfica are concerned, a defeat in Monaco on Wednesday evening could well end their chances of advancing through to the knockout stages of this season's Champions League.

The Primeira Liga outfit are rooted to the bottom of Group C, having lost their opening two encounters at the hands of Zenit St Petersburg and Bayer Leverkusen.

In terms of team selection, head coach Jorge Jesus will be boosted by the return of goalkeeper Artur, who served a suspension on matchday two. However, a leg injury is likely to sideline Atletico Madrid loanee Silvio.

Meanwhile, AS Monaco, who are second in the standings from Zenit on goal difference, will be without former Manchester United centre-forward Dimitar Berbatov because of an ankle complaint. In the Bulgarian's absence, ex-Everton loanee Lacina Traore may start, but a knee problem has ruled out Borja Lopez.

The match will mark the first that Monaco have played against Portuguese opposition since they were defeated in the final of the competition by Porto back in 2004.

As for Benfica, they have made 13 trips to France, with four victories to show for their efforts.

Recent form

Monaco: WWLDDW

Benfica: LWWLWW

Possible starting lineups

Monaco: Subasic; Kurzawa, Carvalho, Raggi, Fabinho; Bakayoko, Toulalan; Moutinho, Carrasco, Germain; Traore

Benfica: Artur; Pereira, Luisao, Eliseu, Lopez; Gaitan, Salvio, Samaris , Talisca; Lima, Derley

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Zenit's Brazilian Hulk (R) celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League group C football match against SL Benfica on September 16, 2014
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League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


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