<h3 style="text-align: justify"><strong><em>Layvin Kurzawa starred as last season's Champions League quarter-finalists Monaco took a big step towards the play-off round of this season's Champions League on Tuesday with a 3-1 win away at Swiss side Young Boys in their third qualifying round first leg clash. Robin van Persie also featured for Fenerbahce.</em></strong></h3> . The 22-year-old French defender blocked a goalbound effort by Japanese striker Yuya Kubo on the line in the 62nd minute and then two minutes later scored at the other end with a sublime volley, from Fabinho's cross, to set Monaco on their way. <p style="text-align: justify">This sparked a crazy flurry where the three other goals came in the next 11 minutes.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">They doubled their lead through Argentinian Guido Carillo, who had come on only a minute before for another new recruit 21-year-old Portuguese forward Ivan Cavaleiro, as he headed home from playmaker Joao Moutinho's 72nd minute freekick.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Young Boys -- whose former PSG striker Guillaume Hoarau should have done better with two free headers -- briefly got back into the match as veteran midfielder Raphael Nuzolo reduced the deficit with 16 minutes remaining.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">However, their hopes were extinguished within a minute as Croatian Mario Pasalic, on loan from English champions Chelsea, scored with a fierce strike from the edge of the penalty area.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">While the second leg should be a formality for Monaco a tougher task lies ahead with the likes of Manchester United and Valencia potential opponents in the final qualifying round which leads for the winners to the lucrative group stage.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">However, coach Leonardo Jardim will have taken heart how his much changed line-up from last season -- veteran Dimitar Berbatov, and younger stars such as Geoffrey Kondogbia and Belgian international winger Yannick Ferreira Carrasco having left -- coped with a relatively challenging away clash.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Elsewhere another side who radically changed their squad during the close season Fenerbahce fared less well as they were held 0-0 at home in Istanbul by Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk, who are no strangers to the group stages.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Despite fielding several of their big name signings such as Portuguese winger Nani the Turkish side were unable to unlock the Ukrainian defence.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Dutch striker Robin van Persie -- signed amidst much fanfare earlier this month from Manchester United -- came on for the last 20 odd minutes replacing Moussa Sow but contributed little.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Fenerbahce, who have returned to European competition after serving a two year ban for their involvement in match-fixing, will have it all to do next week in the second leg to keep alive their hopes of a return to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time since the 2008-09 season.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Action continues on Wednesday with the highlight Scottish champions Celtic -- who failed to make the group stages last season -- at home to Azerbaijan side Qarabag.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>By AFP</strong></p>