Ángel Di María continues incredible record against Monaco and nears Ryan Giggs’ Champions League record | OneFootball

Ángel Di María (36) proved the difference-maker in Benfica’s 3-2 victory over AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League on Wendesday night. Contained for long periods, he assisted two goals in the space of four minutes late on to not only ensure a vital return to winning ways for the Portuguese side but also to improve his own record against the Principality club and close in on the Champions League record.

Di María first assisted Arthur Cabral before then finding Zeki Amdouni as Benfica reversed the deficit late on at the Stade Louis II. It means that the former Paris Saint-Germain forward now has 11 assists against Monaco, considerably more than against any other side in world football (he has seven against Stade Rennais, FC Nantes, Olympique Lyonnais, FC Metz and Levante).

But more importantly for Di María, it means he closes in on the all-time record for assists in the Champions League. He is now on 38, just three behind former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs, who is the holder of the record. The Argentina international has now overtaken David Beckham but it still behind not only Giggs but also Lionel Messi (39) and Cristiano Ronaldo (40).

With three games remaining in the League Phase of this year’s edition of the Champions League and a place in the next phase of the competition looking increasingly assured, Di María may soon get the chance to beat that record.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle