Preview: Benfica vs. Monaco

Despite heading into the Champions League with aspirations of reaching the knockout stages, Benfica are preparing for their fourth Group C fixture with those hopes hanging by a thread.

Monaco will be the visitors to Lisbon on Tuesday evening, when Benfica will continue their bid for a first victory in the group stage.

The neutrals will be hoping for a better show than the one that the same two sides produced a fortnight ago when Benfica and Monaco both settled for a point in an uninspiring goalless draw.

A draw in Monaco was followed by a damaging defeat to Sporting Braga for Benfica, who finally returned to form with a 2-0 victory over Rio Ave on Friday night to protect their status as league leaders in Portugal.

Jorge Jesus will be desperate to see his players produce a similar display on Tuesday as they look to keep the likes of Zenit St Petersburg and Bayer Leverkusen in their sights by adding to their solitary Group C point.

Andreas Samaris was removed at half time against Rio Ave, which suggests that his starting place is likely to be given to Nicolas Gaitan.

Monaco have picked up two draws and a win from their opening three games, but Leonardo Jardim's unbeaten side will be without Dimitar Berbatov, who is currently out of action with a thigh injury.

Lacina Traore is expected to lead the line for the visitors, while Joao Moutinho is also set to return to the team after being used as a substitute in Friday's 1-1 draw with Reims.

Recent form

Benfica: LWWDLW

Monaco: DDWDWD

Possible starting lineups

Benfica: Artur; Lopez, Luisao, Pereira, Eliseu; Almeida, Gaitan, Salvio; Perez, Lima, Talisca

Monaco: Subasic; Fabinho, Carvalho, Kurzawa, Raggi; Moutinho, Kondogbia, Toulalan; Dirar, Traore, Ocampos

Sports Mole says: 2-1