NEUDROSSENFELD, Germany (Interstat) — Paris Brunner scored in the 3rd minute and added an assist as Monaco beat CSKA Sofia 2-1 on Thursday at Sportanlage Neudrossenfeld, Platz 1. Monaco struck first and carried a two-goal lead into halftime before CSKA Sofia pulled one back after the break. The win moved Monaco to 1-0 in the competition and 2-0-1 overall. CSKA Sofia dropped to 0-1 in the competition and 1-1 overall. Monaco entered the match after a draw with Toulouse and a win over Pisa. CSKA Sofia had won 3-2 at FK CSKA 1948 Sofia in its previous overall match. The match was played in Neudrossenfeld, where Monaco made its early pressure count.

Brunner played the full match and finished with one goal and one assist. His 3rd-minute goal gave Monaco an early advantage. Monaco doubled the lead in the 43rd minute when Ansu Fati scored. Stanis Idumbo Muzambo provided the assist on Fati’s goal before being substituted in the 64th minute. Fati played 77 minutes before he was replaced in the 77th minute. Monaco made a triple substitution in the 59th minute involving Minamino T., Camara L. and Salisu M. The changes helped Monaco manage the middle of the match as CSKA Sofia tried to find a response. Brunner was involved in both first-half goals for Monaco. Fati’s goal came shortly before halftime and gave Monaco a comfortable margin.

CSKA Sofia pressed after halftime and was booked twice before its goal. Stefano Sensi, who played the full match, received a yellow card in the 51st minute. Ebong M. was booked in the 69th minute. CSKA Sofia made changes in the 73rd minute involving Leo Pereira and Godoy L. Monaco replaced Idumbo Muzambo in the 64th minute and Fati in the 77th minute. Monaco’s Diop E. was booked in the 78th minute. CSKA Sofia’s Martino A. was booked in the 90+5th minute. Sensi’s booking came as CSKA Sofia tried to gain a foothold in midfield. Ebong’s caution followed as the challenges increased. Monaco’s changes in the 59th minute altered the rhythm, and CSKA Sofia responded with its own substitutions in the 73rd minute.

CSKA Sofia broke through in the 76th minute when Joel Zwarts scored. Zwarts played 17 minutes and produced CSKA Sofia’s only goal. Sensi provided the assist. The goal trimmed Monaco’s lead to 2-1 and set up a tense final stretch. CSKA Sofia used more substitutions in the 85th minute, with Ebong M., Pittas I. and Almeida D. all involved. Monaco held on after the late goal and kept CSKA Sofia from finding an equalizer. Zwarts’ goal came after CSKA Sofia had spent much of the second half chasing the game. The 76th-minute strike gave the home side a spark. Martino’s late booking came deep into stoppage time as CSKA Sofia pushed numbers forward. Monaco’s Diop was also cautioned as the visitors worked to close out the win.

Monaco improved to 1-0 in the competition and 2-0-1 overall. CSKA Sofia moved to 0-1 in the competition and 1-1 overall. Brunner was Monaco’s top performer with his goal and assist. Fati’s first-half goal gave Monaco a two-goal cushion. Zwarts gave CSKA Sofia life with his 17-minute cameo and late goal. Idumbo Muzambo’s assist came during his 64-minute appearance. Sensi’s 90-minute outing included an assist and a yellow card. Monaco’s defense and game management in the second half protected the result. Monaco’s previous overall results this season included a draw with Toulouse and a win over Pisa. CSKA Sofia had entered after a 3-2 victory at FK CSKA 1948 Sofia. The competition records now show Monaco at 1-0 and CSKA Sofia at 0-1. The overall records stand at 2-0-1 for Monaco and 1-1 for CSKA Sofia.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of CSKA Sofia 1, Monaco 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected CSKA Sofia with a 97.7 percent probability to win. Monaco had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.25.