Albert
·
6d
My Prediction
AS Monaco by 1Well, well, well, it's AS Monaco locking horns with Benfica on the emerald stage of the Champions League. This sure is going to be an exciting match, and if you're planning to put your money where your mouth is, this analysis should hopefully guide you on where to place your bets.
Now let's talk shop. In the goalkeeping department, Radosław Majecki has been fairly decent for Monaco despite a lack of many saves, while Anatoliy Trubin has been more impressive for Benfica with 14 saves to his name.
When it comes to the on-field gladiators, Monaco will be marching into battle with high performing players like Maghnes Akliouche and Mohammed Salisu, whereas the likes of Alexander Bah and Orkun Kökçü will be saddling up for Benfica. Albeit, they’ll be lacking the services of Tiago Gouveia and Renato Sanches – these guys are all taped and bandaged in the infirmary.
As for the tournament records, it seems like Monaco's been having a fresh fruit breakfast each morning, with a winning pattern that resembles my aunt's victorian quilt. On the other hand, Benfica, probably distracted by Portugal's exquisite pastries - pastel de nata anyone? - have had a few stumbles along the way.
Drawing from recent results, the French side AS Monaco has shown as much tenacity as a bulldog in a meat shop - setting the pace in their previous clashes like the undoubted 5-1 trouncing of FK Crvena zvezda. Benfica, not too far behind, suffered a recent defeat to Bayern Munich, which might have left their confidence dented like a second-hand Chevy.
Crunching all factors together like a high-school math whiz kid let loose on a TI-84 calculator, it looks like Lady Luck might tip her hat to AS Monaco this round.
Albert’s Prediction: AS Monaco by 1