Ángel Di María produced two late assists to guide Benfica to a thrilling 3-2 victory against Monaco in the Champions League. The Argentine’s decisive contributions came in the 85th and 88th minutes, lifting Benfica to a much-needed win and ending their run of two consecutive defeats. Arthur Cabral equalised for the visitors with a powerful header from Di María’s pinpoint delivery, while Zeki Amdouni, on loan from Burnley, sealed the victory with a late strike. The result saw Monaco, reduced to 10 men after Wilfried Singo’s red card, slip to eighth in the standings, while Benfica climbed to 14th.
Reflecting on the match, Di María said, These moments define the Champions League. I’m glad I could help the team win.
With his two assists, Di María reached 41 in the Champions League, surpassing Lionel Messi and moving into second place on the all-time list. He is now just one assist behind Cristiano Ronaldo, the record holder.Di María has achieved this milestone across stints with Benfica, Real Madrid, and PSG, showcasing his enduring quality in Europe’s premier competition.
Trubin’s Handshake Snub
Benfica’s Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin made headlines for refusing to shake hands with Monaco’s Russian midfielder Aleksandr Golovin before the match. The gesture, a quiet protest against Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, followed similar actions by Ukrainian athletes in other sports.
Trubin’s decision drew mixed reactions. Some praised his stand, with one Reddit user commenting, It’s a subtle but powerful statement, while others questioned the effectiveness of such actions in promoting peace.
The incident is reminiscent of similar gestures in tennis, where Ukrainian players have refused to shake hands with Russian opponents as a form of protest.
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