Preview: Monaco v Benfica
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Article summary
While Leonardo Jardim wants AS Monaco FC to be more clinical, Jorge Jesus says SL Benfica are still looking to win Group C despite losing their first two games.
Article top media content
Article body
• Top meets bottom in Group C as Monaco welcome Benfica
• Leonardo Jardim believes visitors are in false position after two defeats
• Coach wants Monaco to improve on "efficiency in front of goal"
• Jorge Jesus says Benfica "have confidence and ambition"
• Monaco have four points, level with FC Zenit
Possible lineups
Monaco: Subašić; Fabinho, Carvalho, Raggi, Kurzawa; Toulalan, Moutinho, Kondogbia; Ocampos, Berbatov, Ferreira-Carrasco.
• Out: Tourè (hamstring)
• Doubtful: none
Benfica: Artur; Eliseu, Luisão, Lisandro López, Maxi Pereira; Samaris, Enzo Peréz, Anderson Talisca; Gaitán, Lima, Salvio.
• Out: César (back), Jardel (foot), John (muscle injury)
• Doubtful: none
Leonardo Jardim, Monaco coach
To play in the Champions League is enough, whatever the opposition. Benfica are one of the best teams in this group. Their current position in the table does not reflect their quality so we will be careful. Benfica have a lot of quality. They were Europa League finalists [last season] and they're top of the Portuguese league. They're still a good team with a great coach.
Monaco are not very efficient in front of goal, but we create a lot of chances so we will try and improve on [our finishing]. I expect Benfica to field a strong team and go for it, but we're at home and will go for the three points ourselves.
Benfica have not changed much in the last three years. Even if they lost some players, they managed to keep their coach and important players so they are a high-level team. But we have a top-quality team too, and I can tell you that our future looks bright.
Jorge Jesus, Benfica coach
We are not favourites, that's a subjective question. If we look at the table we can say that Monaco are favourites. All the teams can go through in this group so we are here to win. This game will only be decisive if we win. I will field my best team for this game.
It is always difficult to play away from home in the Champions League. But we are confident, we have ambition. We want to win the group so we want to win here.
Weekend results
Monaco 2-0 Évian Thonon Gaillard FC (Moutinho 2pen, Ferreira-Carrasco 70)
SC Covilhã 2-3 Benfica (Traquina 8, Erivelto 42; Jonas 2pen 53 70)
Form guide (all competitions)
Monaco: WDDLWW
Benfica: WWLWWL
Match facts
• Where did Monaco last meet a Portuguese side? Find out in our extensive match background.
