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Monaco qualified for the next round of the UEFA Cup as Group A winners following a 2-1 victory over CSKA Sofia.
It was the first time the principality outfit had beaten their Bulgarian opponents in five attempts and it means they will avoid one of the eight former Champions' League sides next time out.
They did so without rested regulars Camel Meriem and Patrice Evra as well, but those two were hardly needed as the hosts took an early grip on proceedings. Olivier Kapo created the first opening on 18 minutes and probably should have done better when he blasted over with the CSKA defence at his mercy.
Captain Sébastien Squillaci then headed off-target as Monaco stepped up the pressure and, in the 22nd minute, Toifilou Maoulida forced the visitors No 1 Dejan Maksic into a fine save from his rasping drive. At the other end, Guillaume Warmuz was no more than a spectator until Velizar Dimitrov finally called him into action to make a comfortable stop on 39 minutes.
The only thing missing for Monaco was a goal, but that duly came five minutes after the restart when Kapo received Lucas Bernardi's clever pass and fired home from a tight angle. CSKA then threatened to pull level through Emil Gargarov, only for Warmuz to keep him out, and Squillaci sent the home side clear when he tapped in the rebound following François Modesto's blocked shot.
Dimitrov ensured some late nerves with a goal for CSKA seven minutes from time, but Monaco held on to join Marseille, Strasbourg and Lille in the last 32.
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