French Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco are on the verge of being knocked out from this season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) after they lost to Shakthar Donetsk of Ukraine at home. The two teams met earlier this week for the first leg of their playoff tie and it was the Ukrainians who established a lead ahead of the second leg scheduled to take place later this month.
Spanish international Cesc Fabregas is one of the most decorated players in the AS Monaco team but he was left on the bench for the entire duration of the home clash with Shakthar Donetsk.
Veteran midfielder Cesc Fabregas is no longer a regular in the Monaco XI. Youssof Fofana and Aurelien Tchouameni started in midfield for Monaco before the former was subbed off for Jean Lucas at the start of the second half. Cesc Fabregas was an unused substitute for Nico Kovac’s team.
Fabregas and AS Monaco secured a place in the Champions League qualifiers thanks to their place in the top three of French Ligue 1 last season. Monaco finished the last campaign in third position behind Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and eventual winners Lille.
Niko Kovac and his Monaco players have it all to do in the second leg of their playoff tie with Ukrainian giants Shakthar. Monaco need to win the second leg to have any chance of moving into the group stage of the competition. The winner of the playoff tie between Monaco and Shakthar is guaranteed a place in the Champions League group stage this season.