Barcelona fell to a primary aggressive defeat beneath supervisor Hansi Flick as they have been overwhelmed by French facet Monaco within the Champions League after having Eric Garcia despatched off.
Barca’s unbeaten begin to the season got here beneath speedy menace when their central midfielder was given a crimson card for an expert foul, although Lamine Yamal managed to equalise after Maghnes Akliouche’s strike.
Nonetheless, the depleted Blaugrana could not maintain on as George Ilenikhena consigned them to defeat with a second-half aim within the newly rebranded league section of Europe’s elite membership competitors.
How the sport unfolded
Barca‘s begin to the brand new marketing campaign has been, considerably surprisingly, overwhelmingly constructive. After Xavi Hernandez’s chaotic dismissal, 5 wins from 5 La Liga fixtures have despatched Flick’s new group to the highest of Spain’s first division.
They have not made the semi-finals of the Champions League since 2019, nevertheless, and their begin to the brand new league section of the competitors was horrendous as Monaco gained a participant and aim benefit in fast succession.
In solely the tenth minute, Garcia was caught dawdling on the sting of his personal field – not helped by a poor Marc-Andre ter Stegen move – by Takumi Minamino and clumsily introduced down the previous Liverpool attacker. Referee Allard Lindhout dismissed the 23-year-old, handing Barca an almighty setback.
Quickly after, the unbeaten Monaco took the lead. The rocked Barca did not know whether or not to shut down Akliouche or let him run and the younger attacker made the Catalan giants pay, slicing in off the correct wing and slamming his left-footed shot previous Ter Stegen on the close to publish.
After scoring 17 objectives in 5 La Liga video games with out a lot adversity to take care of, Barca and Flick have been all of the sudden staring on the largest problem of the German’s temporary reign. Fortunately for the guests, a younger however already acquainted talisman stepped as much as drag them again into the competition.
It was barely a half-chance for Yamal, who received in behind the Monaco defence and swerved infield, tucking his shot past Philipp Kohn in a similar way to Akliouche’s strike.
That end noticed the Euro 2024 winner develop into the second youngest goalscorer in Champions League historical past at 17 years and 68 days, second solely to present teammate Ansu Fati at 17 and 40.
Having seemed shellshocked within the speedy aftermath of Garcia’s crimson card and going behind, Barca shortly had a brand new foothold within the match and a defensive mix-up almost noticed Alejandre Balde put the Blaugrana forward, however the left-back dragged his effort huge.
Half-time got here and went with Monaco pissed off to solely be on stage phrases regardless of dominating the primary 45 minutes, having been sucker-punched by Barca’s sole shot on course.
Raphinha very almost scampered in on aim having been performed in by an extended ball excessive, however Kohn rushed out of his penalty space and nailed a slide sort out to cease the Brazilian having an empty internet to faucet into.
Whereas the guests largely managed to limit Monaco’s efforts on objectives to speculative pictures from distance which Ter Stegen handled largely comfortably, the numbers recreation ultimately caught up with Barca. The aim got here in maddeningly easy vogue for Monaco, too.
Pau Cubarsi missed a header and Inigo Martinez performed George Ilenikhena onside from an extended punt ahead, permitting the teenage substitute to race by means of and end powerfully, his kick deflecting off Ter Stegen and in.
Folarin Balogun seemed to have gained a penalty to wrap up the factors for Monaco late on, however a test from the video assistant referee confirmed the USMNT initiating contact and the choice was reversed.
Whereas Flick made late adjustments to drive the problem, no additional equaliser got here as Barca slumped to defeat of their first league section outing of the season.
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 4/10 – Made a variety of comfy saves which saved Barca on stage phrases however performed Garcia into bother and was disappointingly overwhelmed for the successful aim.
RB: Jules Kounde – 5/10 – Had little attacking to do after the crimson card and was given a number of uncomfortable moments by Eliesse Ben Seghir.
CB: Pau Cubarsi – 6/10 – Confirmed composure in spells and wasn’t daunted by the massive problem Barca have been handed early on, however his inexperience did present for the second Monaco aim.
CB: Inigo Martinez – 4/10 – Slightly too sluggish and cumbersome within the face of some pacy Monaco attackers.
LB: Alejandre Balde – 5/10 – Like Kounde on the other flank, Balde was consigned to a purely defensive temporary and did not do sufficient to shut down Akliouche.
CM: Eric Garcia – 2/10 – Did not have sufficient time to settle himself into the sport earlier than giving his facet an almighty mountain to climb with a poor contact and subsequent crimson card.
CM: Marc Casado – 7/10 – Grabbed the help for Yamal’s aim – although it was extra in regards to the teenager’s wizardy – and needed to break up play with tackles and even fouls at factors.
RW: Lamine Yamal – 8/10 – The teenager’s popularity continues to develop even when Barca lose. He stepped up when his facet have been trying clueless together with his aim, although it wasn’t sufficient to salvage something from the fixture.
AM: Pedri – 6/10 – His extra attacking temporary shortly turned a holding function following Garcia’s dismissal. Was outnumbered a number of occasions in midfield however his work charge was unquestionably excessive.
LW: Raphinha – 6/10 – Might need had an empty internet to faucet into on one other day and confirmed good enterprise, even with Barca a participant down.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – 5/10 – Did not get a shot away in the entire match, although his ineffectiveness was largely the results of Garcia’s crimson card.
Substitutes
SUB: Ferran Torres (79′ for Cubarsi) – 5/10
SUB: Sergi Dominguez (79′ for Lewandowski) – 5/10
SUB: Gerard Martin (80′ for Yamal) – 5/10
SUB: Pablo Torre (83′ for Torres) – 5/10
SUB: Ansu Fati (88′ for Balde) – N/A
Subs not used: Guillermo Fernandez, Ander Astralaga (GK), Inaki Pena (GK), Andreas Cuenca, Hector Fort, Antonio Fernandez, Pau Victor.
Supervisor
Hansi Flick – 6/10 – His gameplan was just about torn up by Garcia’s dismissal however Flick would have been inspired by his facet’s spirit, even when they ultimately fell to defeat late on.
