Third in Ligue 1 in 2021-22, the Monegasques are transferred to the third qualifying round, and that is no small feat.

By virtue of its UEFA coefficient, ASM is indeed deprived of the seeded hat, which complicates its task during the ceremony held in Nyon, at the headquarters of the European Confederation.

Five teams can thus cross paths with Philippe Clement's players: Benfica Lisbon, scarecrow of this round, Glasgow Rangers, recent Europa League finalists, PSV Eindhoven, used to European games, or the winner of the second qualifying round opposing Dynamo kyiv at Fenerbahçe, which will take place on July 20 and 27.

Conversely, the hat of the non-seeded, that of Monaco, seemed much more affordable, with Sturm Graz (Austria), Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium) and the winner of the match between Midtjylland (Denmark) in Larnaca (Cyprus).

The qualifications for the C1 are divided into two distinct tables: the "champions path" made up of the champion clubs of second-tier nations, and the "League path", which includes teams from major nations that have finished second or third in their respective Championship, like Monaco.

ASM is counting on the experience of last season to extricate itself from this round: after a success against Sparta Prague at the same stage in 2021-22, the Rock club had failed in the play-offs, at the gates of the phase of groups, against Shakhtar Donetsk (0-1, 2-2 after extra time).

Reversed in the Europa League, Monaco had been eliminated in the round of 16 by Braga.

The players of the Rock are undefeated for the moment in preparation with two victories against Cercle Bruges (1-0) and Portimonense (2-0), and three draws against Saint-Gall (1-1), Austria Vienna (2- 2) and Inter Milan (2-2).

Against the Milanese on Saturday, the Azureans were able to count on the debut of Japanese attacking midfielder Takumi Minamino, who entered at the break.

The other summer recruit, the Belgian striker Breel Embolo, had however remained in the Principality.

The Monegasques' entry into the third qualifying round is scheduled for August 2 or 3 for the first leg, with a return leg on August 9.

Meanwhile, the draw for the play-offs, the final round before the group stage, is scheduled for August 2.

In the event of elimination in the third qualifying round, or in the play-offs, ASM will be transferred to the group stage of the Europa League.

The competing teams:

way of champions

Seeds

Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) or FK Shkupi (MKD)

Red Star Belgrade (SRB)

Olympiakos (GRE) or Maccabi Haifa (ISR)

Viktoria Plzen (CZE) or HJK Helsinki (FIN)

Qarabag (AZE) or FC Zurich (SUI)

Malmo (SWE) or Zalgiris Vilnius (LTU)

Non-seeded

Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) or Shamrock Rovers (IRL)

Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) or NK Maribor (SLO)

Pyunik Yerevan (ARM) or Dudelange (LUX)

Bodo/Glimt (NOR) or Linfield (NIR)

Ferencvaros (HUN) or Slovan Bratislava (SVK)

Apollon Limassol (CYP)

League Way

Seeds

Benfica Lisbon (POR)

Glasgow Rangers (SCO)

Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) or Fenerbahce (TUR)

PSV Eindhoven (NED)

Non-seeded

Monaco (FRA)

Midtjylland (DEN) or AEK Larnaca (CYP)

Sturm Graz (AUT)

Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL)

© 2022 AFP