After Lyon during the 4th day, it is therefore Monaco which offered itself a direct qualification for the round of 16.

And this from the fifth day!

A real good performance, as its main opponents - Real Sociedad, runner-up to Real Madrid in Spain, and PSV Eindhoven, second behind Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands - are currently performing.

Author of a good first period during which she scored twice, the Principality's team managed to hold on after the break.

Even if the last minutes were hot, if Benoît Badiashile was injured (68th), if Youssouf Fofana was excluded for a moody gesture (90th), the German goalkeeper Alexander Nübel was scared only one only once after the break.

But the Swedish international Alexander Isak failed to beat him (60th).

And Monaco, in delicacy in Ligue 1, therefore qualified directly without having to go through the dams.

Even without his metronome, Aurélien Tchouameni, hit in one knee in training on the eve of the match, and preserved for future deadlines, Monaco started well.

From the outset, the Principality's team showed its intentions: to go find its opponent and press him.

Sofiane Diop handed over to Wissam Ben Yedder, whose strike was blocked (6th).

Diop, again, recovered very high, to serve his captain, who gave Kevin Volland, imprecise (11th).

-Fofana scorer and exclu-

Even if the Basques, with their high-flying technique, also continued to attack, Niko Kovac's men were the most incisive.

Logically, after a one-two between Aleksandr Golovin and Ben Yedder, the Russian offered Volland his second European goal of the season (1-0, 28th).

Monaco striker, German Kevin Volland (l), congratulated by his teammates, after opening the scoring at home against Real Sociedad, during their group match of the Europa League Conference, on November 25, 2021 at the Stade Louis II Valery HACHE AFP

Affected, the Spaniards again left their goalkeeper, Mathew Ryan, to cope alone in front of Ben Yedder (31st) and Djibril Sidibé (32nd).

But the offensive talent is such on the side of San Sebastian, that it only takes a little to rectify a badly started situation.

Served in depth by the Belgian international Adnan Januzaj, Isak stung his ball to nicely equalize (1-1, 35th).

The Swedish striker of Real Sociedad, Alexander Isak, recovers the ball after having equalized (1-1) against Monaco, during their group match of the Europa Conference Conference, on November 25, 2021 at the Stade Louis II Valery HACHE AFP

Faulty on the action, Badiashile caught up in stride.

On a corner from Diop at the far post, he delivered perfectly for Fofana, winner of his header and scorer (2-1, 35th).

Monegasque midfielder Youssouf Fofafa scores the 2nd home goal against Real Sociedad, during their group match of the Europa Conference Conference, on November 25, 2021 at Stade Louis II Valery HACHE AFP

At the break, the scenario was perfect for the Red and White.

So coach Imanol Alguacil took out aging star David Silva and warned defender Joseba Zaldua to try to overturn the table, ahead of Prince Albert on one side, and over a thousand Basque fans on the other.

But Monaco held on and can savor a good qualifying.

© 2021 AFP