Valencia negotiated safe passage into the Champions League group stage with a 4-3 aggregate win over Monaco.
Nuno Santo’s side led 3-1 from the first leg and increased the advantage early through Alvaro Negredo, only to fall behind to Andrea Raggi and Elderson.
It wasn’t enough to send Valencia out, though, and it means Spain will have five teams in the group stage, Valencia joining holders Barcelona, as well as Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Europa League winners Sevilla.
Negredo netted after Fabinho misplaced a pass close to his own goal and the former Manchester City striker took over, chipping Danijel Subasic from left of the penalty area.
Raggi converted shortly after when Valencia failed to clear a corner, Matt Ryan’s goalkeeping somewhat short of certain as he flapped at the initial cross.
Ryan made the save from a troubling free kick but only put the ball back into danger and Elderson converted – not without controversy amid suspicion of handball and offside.
Both sides made two changes from the first leg, Valencia bringing in Javi Fuego and Negredo for Rodrigo de Paul and Paco Alcacer, and Monaco swapping Layvin Kurzawa and Nabil Dirar for Wallace and Elderson.
Valencia were nearly out of sight with practically the first attack, a free-kick put behind for a corner and the resulting set piece giving Shkodran Mustafi a chance that Subasic was equal to.
Subasic had no chance moments later, though, when his team gave away possession 30 yards from their own area and Negredo produced a delicate chip from a tight angle to cancel out Monaco’s first leg away goal.
It was almost two for Valencia and Negredo at the 10-minute mark when Monaco’s right was again exposed, Enzo Perez and Rodrigo Moreno combining, but this time the shot flew over the crossbar.
Ryan had his moment of uncertainty just after the quarter-hour mark as Monaco finally turned up to the tie, making a contest of it following a timid opening 15 minutes, and unfortunately for the Australian it wasn’t his only error.
Anthony Martial, impressive in the first leg, made his first contribution to the second with a tame shot from range, Kurzawa sent a free-kick over the bar and Fabinho found the side netting as the first half ended with Valencia’s two-goal lead intact.
Monaco started the second half on the attack and had two penalty shouts waved away, neither particularly convincing, before Parejo stung Subasic’s hands with a long-range free kick.
The home side kept coming but chances were few and far between as the hour mark was passed, Valencia conceding a little much territory and possession to be comfortable, but on the whole standing firm.
Dirar saw a first-time volley blocked for a corner but Monaco finally got another goal back after the in-swinging free kick caused havoc for Valencia and put the principality side right back in it.
Monaco pushed for the goal to take the game to extra time and Ryan pulled out a smart save from Thomas Lemar, one of the Monaco substitutes to make a big difference in the second half.
Valencia saw out the danger, however, booking a return to the Champions League proper and after a draining encounter.
Monaco 2-1 Valencia [3-4 on aggregate]
Negredo 4 (V), Raggi 18, Elderson 74 (M)
Monaco: Subasic; Fabinho, Carvalho, Raggi, Kurzawa (Elderson 62); Dirar, Bernado, Pasalic (Lemar 52), Toulalan; Martial, Cavaleiro (Carillo 64)
Subs: Nardi, Wallace, Elderson, Traore, Lemar, Carillo, El Shaarway
Valencia: Ryan; Barragan, Mustafi, Vezo, Gaya; Fuego, Perez (Danilo 77), Parejo; Feghouli, Rodrigo (Piatti); Negredo (Alcacer 60)
Subs: Yoel, Orban, Danilo, De Paul, Alcacer, Piatti, Santi Mina
Referee: Rizzoli [Italy]
