Monaco have beaten Sochaux 2-1 in Ligue 1, but remain eight points behind Paris Saint-Germain in second place.
The hosts took no time in getting into their attacking football, with James Rodriguez striking low from a tight angle but seeing his effort comfortably kept out by Yohann Pele.
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They did not have to wait long for the opener, and it was Berbatov who got it on his first start for the club. He was found by a low cross form Layvin Kurzawa and made no mistake with his sixth-minute finish.
It remained all Monaco but the away side could have been level midway through the half. Roy Contout met a Jordan Ayew cross and struck the right-hand post with his effort.
Rodriguez was in confident mood but, although he managed to work space outside the box to shoot with five minutes of the half remaining, his shot flew harmlessly over the bar.
In the second half Julien Faussurier fouled Berbatov in the penalty area, which allowed Rodriguez the chance to score and he made no mistake in making it 2-0.
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The visitors made it a nervy finish with a goal from Edouard Butin, but after Jordan Ayew's red card for raising his hand to an opponent, the result was never in doubt.
