AS Monaco Concedes Late Goals in Heartbreaking Champions League Defeat

In a thrilling UEFA Champions League encounter at Stade Louis-II, AS Monaco narrowly fell to Benfica 3-2, marking their first loss in the competition this season. The Monegasque team initially led with goals from Eliesse Ben Seghir and Soungoutou Magassa but succumbed to a late rally by the visitors. Despite the defeat, Monaco remains poised within the top eight of the tournament standings, securing a strong position with just one group stage match remaining.

The match, critical for both sides, saw Monaco aiming to continue their robust campaign following a decisive 5-1 win against Red Star Belgrade and Benfica fighting to keep their knockout stage hopes alive. Monaco's strategy, orchestrated by head coach Adi Hütter, highlighted a 4-2-3-1 setup, with significant contributions from the attacking trio led by Ben Seghir. The young forward opened the scoring, setting an electrifying pace, only for Benfica to equalize early in the second half.

As the game progressed, tensions heightened with both teams having goals disallowed by VAR and Monaco eventually reduced to ten men following Wilfried Singo's controversial dismissal. Capitalizing on their numerical advantage, Benfica overturned the scoreline late in the game, delivering a tough but crucial lesson to Monaco. The local squad now turns its focus to the upcoming critical Ligue 1 contest against Marseille, aiming to rebound from this setback and fortify their domestic campaign.