They made no mistake on their European debut! Facing a spirited CSKA Sofia side at the Vasil Levski Stadium in their first-ever UEFA Conference League fixture, AS Monaco deservedly secured all three points on Matchday 1 (1-2), despite a late scare in the final quarter of an hour. Match report ✍️

The game could hardly have started better for the Rouge et Blanc in the electric atmosphere of the Vasil Levski Stadium, watched by Dimitar Berbatov and 150 Monaco supporters in the away section. Following a strong recovery from a Bulgarian corner, AS Monaco broke at pace, and after fine link-up play from Taki’, Paris Brunner took advantage of a poor clearance to fire the ball into the roof of the net (0-1, 3rd minute)! It was already the German striker’s seventh goal of the season in all competitions.

"Magic" Paris scores and assists 🎯

Having already found the net home and away in the play-off round against Górnik Zabrze, the number 29 was full of confidence and even tried his luck from a tight angle, though without success on this occasion (19’). Dominating possession, CSKA struggled to create real danger despite efforts from Sensi (12’), Jordão (25’) and Martino (41’), all trying their chances from outside the box against a largely untroubled Lukáš Hradecký. In contrast, the Monégasques were ruthless and doubled their lead on the counterattack, with Brunner setting up Ansu Fati, who finished superbly across goal (0-2, 43’).

Sofia push forward, Hradecký stays alert 🧤

The scoreline could even have become more emphatic before the break, but “Magic” Paris dragged his effort just too wide (45’+1). After the restart, the hosts stepped up a gear and looked more threatening, although Godoy still failed to hit the target (50’). Between two waves of substitutions made by Filipe Luís, it was eventually the Italian midfielder Sensi who forced the Monaco goalkeeper into a two-stage save with a tricky effort (55’), shortly before Martino’s long-range attempt (65’).

One final scare before the relief 🥵

The CSKA manager then introduced fresh legs of his own, and the changes paid off as substitute Zwarts powered home a header from a corner (1-2, 76’). The Vasil Levski Stadium erupted and the pressure increased on the Rouge et Blanc, even if the flow of chances paradoxically began to dry up. Following an 11th Bulgarian corner of the evening, AS Monaco ultimately secured victory in their opening UEFA Conference League fixture (1-2). Next up is a Ligue 1 trip to Lorient this Sunday (5:15pm). DAGHE MUNEGU!!! 🇲🇨

🗓️ Match Sheet

Thursday 15 October 2026 (6:45pm) - Vasil Levski Stadium

🇪🇺 UEFA Conference League - Matchday 1: CSKA Sofia 1-2 AS Monaco

Half-time: 0-2

Goals: Zwarts (76’) for Sofia; Brunner (3’), Fati (43’) for AS Monaco

Yellow cards: Sensi (51’), Ebong (69’) and Martino (90’+5) for Sofia; Diop (78’) for AS Monaco

Sofia: Lapoukhov - Pastor, Almeida (Ivanov, 85’), Rodriguez, Martino - Ebong (Solet, 85’), Sensi, Jordão (c), Pereira (Itu, 73’) - Pittas (Eto’o, 85’), Godoy (Zwarts, 73’)

Substitutes: Evtimov, Nikolov, Ivanov, Tunchev, Eto’o, Itu, Panayotov, Solet, Yordanov, Kaymakanov, Zwarts

Head coach: Markus Gisdol

AS Monaco: Hradecký (c) - Teze, Sané, Salisu (Nazinho, 58’), Mawissa - Diop, Camara (Zakaria, 58’) - Minamino (Golovin, 58’), Fati (Soubeir, 77’), Idumbo (Abline, 64’) - Brunner

Substitutes: Köhn, Nazinho, Vanderson, Cabral, Coulibaly, Detourbet, Golovin, Soubeir, Touré, Zakaria, Abline, Biereth

Head coach: Filipe Luís

See also