The first half of the ten UEFA Conference League matches, which kicked off at 6.45pm, saw Monaco and Trabzonspor stand out with their results. CSKA Sofia was defeated 0-2 by Monaco, while Atalanta, the only Italian team in the competition, still has Pafos to play. Other matches produced draws and small advantages: Egnatia and Midtjylland drew 1-1, Gent and Aarhus finished without a goal, Hajduk Split took a 1-0 lead over Ajax, KuPS were beaten 0-2 by Trabzonspor, Lugano and Red Star drew 1-1, Mjallby won 1-0 against Inter Escaldes, Panathinaikos won 1-0 over Borac, Riga finished 1-1 against Kairat Almaty, while Craiova University and Getafe remained 0-0.
Monaco put in a solid performance in the first half, with two goals to put CSKA Sofia in trouble. The opening goal was scored by a Monaco attacker, followed by another in a team attack. Trabzonspor, however, showed a strong start against KuPS, with two goals ensuring a two-goal lead. Both teams maintained the pressure, but the final result was decided already in the first half.
Meanwhile, Atalanta is preparing to meet Pafos. Coach Gian Piero Sarri announced the lineup, with seven players out for precautionary reasons and midfielder Bellanova resting. Sarri underlined the importance of not underestimating the opponent, but he also had to deal with the loss of Scalvini and Kessie. Atalanta's objective is to confirm its leading position in European competition.
The ongoing matches have shown a variety of results, with some clubs demonstrating defensive solidity and others struggling to find the back of the net. CSKA Sofia, for example, was unable to score, while Monaco used opportunities to take control of the game. Other matches saw draws, such as the one between Egnatia and Midtjylland, where both teams showed a good offensive and defensive balance.
As the competition progresses, Italian teams will need to focus on their performance on the pitch. Atalanta, in particular, will have to demonstrate that they are able to handle the pressure and exploit their strengths to achieve a positive result against Pafos. Meanwhile, Monaco and Trabzonspor look set to continue their run in the Conference League, with promising results already in the first half.