An Emmanuel Imorou own goal has given Monaco a 1-0 half-time lead over Caen at the Stade Louis II.
The hosts, unbeaten in five Ligue 1 games heading into the match, were gifted the lead in the fifth minute when Imorou inadvertently put the ball into his own net after Dimitar Berbatov's effort was blocked in a congested penalty area.
That handed the control to Monaco, and they came close to doubling their advantage when Bernardo Silva latched onto Valere Germain's through ball before seeing his low effort saved by Remi Vercoutre.
Chances were rare for Caen, but the visitors were unlucky not to be level when Herve Bazile's curled effort was pushed away by Danijel Subasic.
Despite being forced on the back foot for an extended spell, Monaco finished the first half strongly, and Berbatov came close to making it 2-0 with a speculative strike which drifted just wide of the post.
