Football: Monaco open Europa Conference League campaign with a win

AS Monaco extended their unbeaten run to the season by opening their Europa Conference League campaign with a win over CSKA Sofia (1-2) on Thursday night. Monaco raced into the lead in Bulgaria thanks to a goal from the returning Paris Brunner.

The German has been one of the breakout stars of the Ligue 1 season but missed last weekend's draw to Toulouse (2-2) through suspension. Back on the pitch, he was back on the scoresheet within three minutes, finishing off a move that was initiated by another returning face, that of Takumi Minamino, who is easing his way back following last season's ACL injury.

It wasn't the prettiest of goals but the deflection from Stanis Idumbo's initial effort fell fortuitously for Brunner, whose finish into the roof of the net was emphatic. The German had quickly found his range and went close to doubling his tally on the night, but from the edge of the box put a driven effort just wide of the far post.

A night for Monaco's returning faces in Bulgaria This was a night of reintroductions and it was then Ansu Fati's turn to remind Monaco what they had been missing. The Spaniard's move to Monaco from Barcelona was made permanent over the summer.

However, injury had prevented him from featuring. In what was his first start, he was keen to make a mark.

Fati did so with a left-footed effort from the edge of the box. It was another move involving the returning duo of Minamino and Brunner; the latter laid on the assist and Monaco were cruising.

They would have been out of sight if Brunner had finished a much more presentable chance on the stroke of half time. But this was a game that thereafter followed a familiar trajectory.

Monaco took their foot off the accelerator at half-time against RC Lens but got away with it just before the international break. The same wasn't the case against Toulouse.

The Principality club were pegged back by Le TéFéCé over the weekend, despite returning to the dressing room with a two-goal advantage. Luís dismissed "favourites" tag There was less control and incision in particular from Filipe Luís' side in the second half.