AS Monaco kicked off their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign with a 2-1 victory over CSKA Sofia, securing a vital away win in their opening Group Stage fixture. The result not only earns them crucial early points but also extends manager Filipe Luís’s impressive unbeaten start since taking charge of the Principality club over the summer.
Monaco Secure Opening Win
The French side made a lightning-quick start to the match, demonstrating their attacking intent from the outset. Paris Brunner, who had been suspended at the weekend, returned to the line-up and broke the deadlock with a powerful close-range effort that found the roof of the net. His goal set the tone for Monaco’s dominant first half.
Brunner then turned provider towards the end of the first half, delivering a precise pass to Ansu Fati. Making his first start of the season following his return from injury, Fati calmly slotted the ball past the CSKA Sofia goalkeeper from the edge of the box. This clinical finish gave Monaco a comfortable two-goal lead heading into the half-time interval.
However, the second half saw a shift in momentum. Just as they had in a recent domestic fixture, Monaco found themselves two goals ahead and seemingly in control, only for their opponents to respond. CSKA Sofia mounted a spirited comeback attempt, and Joel Zwarts capitalised on a set-piece, scoring with a header from a corner with 20 minutes remaining. This goal injected tension into the final stages, setting up a nervy finish for the visitors.
Luís’ Unbeaten Start Continues
Despite the late scare, Monaco held on to secure all three points, maintaining Filipe Luís’s unbeaten record as coach. His side had recently drawn 2-2 with Toulouse FC over the weekend, a match where they also held a two-goal advantage before conceding a comeback. The experience from that domestic encounter likely contributed to the cautious approach in the closing minutes against CSKA Sofia.
AS Monaco are widely considered by some as one of the favourites to win the Europa Conference League title this season, a tag that Luís had reportedly shirked pre-match, preferring to focus on individual games. Their next fixture in the competition will be a challenging encounter against German side Freiburg, as they look to build on this winning start.