Barcelona’s Champions League journey began with disappointment as they lost 2-1 to AS Monaco in their opening match on September 19, 2024. The game saw Eric Garcia receive an early red card, leaving Barca down to 10 men just 11 minutes into the match. The dismissal came after a poor pass from goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, forcing Garcia into a last-man challenge on Takumi Minamino, which led to his ejection.
Early Lead for Monaco
Monaco capitalized on their man advantage, with Maghnes Akliouche opening the scoring in the 16th minute, much to the delight of the crowd at Stade Louis II, which included notable figures like French national team coach Didier Deschamps and basketball legend Michael Jordan.
Barcelona struggled to recover after the setback, but their teenage sensation Lamine Yamal brought them back into the game. Yamal, who continues to make headlines, scored a stunning left-footed strike from outside the penalty box, equalizing the match in the 28th minute. The goal marked Yamal’s first in the Champions League, making him the second-youngest scorer in the competition’s history.
Monaco Seals the Win
Despite Yamal’s brilliance, Monaco regained control in the second half, with George Ilenikhena netting the match-winning goal in the 70th minute. Monaco’s defensive efforts kept Barcelona at bay for the remainder of the match, handing Barca their first loss of the season after a strong start in La Liga.
Flick’s Perspective and Looking Ahead
Barcelona’s coach Hansi Flick was visibly frustrated with the outcome, as the defeat disrupted his team’s early-season momentum. Midfielder Pedri echoed this sentiment but found positives in how the team adapted to playing with 10 men for most of the match. He emphasized that the team must learn from the communication error between Ter Stegen and Garcia that led to the red card and move forward in their campaign.
Barcelona’s next Champions League fixture is a home match against Young Boys on October 1, 2024, where they will aim to bounce back and collect their first points of the tournament.
Stay tuned with ibizznews for more updates on the Champions League and Barcelona’s progress this season.
