Pavlidis scored the only goal of the match, giving the Portuguese side the advantage.
Benfica defeated Monaco 1-0 on Wednesday, the 12th, in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs. Pavlidis scored the only goal of the match. Get all the best football updates at best football score app.
This was perhaps the least hyped and most evenly matched duel of the playoffs, at least based on the league phase standings. Benfica finished in 16th place with 13 points, while Monaco ended 17th with the same 13 points but an inferior goal difference—4 to 0.
However, the action on the pitch told a different story. Benfica dominated the hosts, and the scoreline could have been much worse for Monaco. The Portuguese side registered 23 shots, six of them on target, while Monaco managed only six attempts, with three on goal.
After a goalless first half, Pavlidis broke the deadlock early in the second. In the 48th minute, the forward netted a spectacular goal to give Benfica the lead. Things went from bad to worse for Monaco when Al-Musrati was sent off in the 52nd minute, forcing the home side to play almost the entire second half with 10 men.
With this result, Benfica will advance to the Champions League round of 16 with a draw in front of their home crowd at Estádio da Luz next Tuesday, the 18th. ToSport, your go-to place for football results.
