AS Monaco beat Villarreal to qualify for Champions League group stage

AS Monaco have sealed their place in the group stages of the Champions League courtesy of a 3-1 aggregate victory over Villarreal.

Leonardo Jardim's side held a 2-1 lead over the Spanish outfit heading into the home second leg, and Fabinho's late penalty was enough to complete the job at the Stade Louis II this evening.

Monaco were without the suspended Benjamin Mendy following his red card in the first leg, and his replacement Djibril Sidibe was quickly in the book too during an uneventful first half.

It was the home side who had the first opening of the match shortly after the half-hour mark when Thomas Lemar was presented with a glorious chance, but Sergio Asenjo pulled off a fine point-blank save to keep things goalless on the night.

Danijel Subasic was called into action at the other end of the pitch with five minutes remaining of the first half, denying Rafael Borre after the Villarreal striker had been released clean through on goal.

That proved to be a rare clear sight of goal for either side as both teams struggled to find a breakthrough - something which suited Monaco given their first-leg advantage.

The deadlock was finally broken in the final minute of normal time, and it was the hosts who rubber-stamped their place in the Champions League proper to seal their aggregate victory.

Mateo Musacchio was penalised for a handball inside the Villarreal area, and Fabinho made no mistake from the resulting penalty.

Monaco will now enter the group-stage draw for Europe's top-tier competition, while Villarreal are consigned to Europa League football this season.