Monaco have secured their place in the UEFA Champions League group stages with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brest at the Stade Louis II.
The Principality side took the lead through a well-worked goal from Hakim Ziyech, who scored his first international goal for Monaco against France's top-flight side on Tuesday. The Belgian winger then added a second before half-time to ensure that the hosts would be heading into the break ahead.
Brest came out fighting after the interval and threatened to pull off a surprise comeback, but it was the visitors' inability to convert their chances that ultimately proved costly. They were reduced to ten men shortly after the hour mark when defender Benjamin Koffi received a straight red card for a foul on Ziyech.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Monaco continued to dominate possession and create scoring opportunities. Their efforts eventually paid off as substitute Florian Thauvin found the back of the net to secure all three points for his team.
The win sees Monaco move into Group D along with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Inter Milan and RB Leipzig. They will face the latter two teams away from home before hosting PSG and RB Leipzig respectively.
Monaco's victory is a huge boost for the club, who have struggled in recent years to compete with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City. It also cements their status as one of Europe's top sides, with the team's performances in this competition likely to attract interest from other clubs.
Overall, it was another impressive display from Monaco, who showed their class against a strong opposition. With the win under their belt, they now head into the final few games of the season with a clear target set on securing a top-four finish.