This morning, Barcelona faced a disappointing defeat against the seemingly weaker AS Monaco in the Champions League.
Coach Hansi Flick’s team was determined as they began their journey in this year’s European competition, arriving in France with a five-match winning streak in La Liga and a much stronger squad.
However, Barcelona did not anticipate a regrettable 1-2 loss. The only goal for them came from young star Lamine Yamal, while the home team scored through Maghnes Akliouche and George Ilenikhena.
Here are five highlights from this surprising match.
“Defensive Woes” Eric Garcia
The major reason for Barcelona’s shocking defeat was undoubtedly Eric Garcia’s red card. Normally a central defender, he was used as a midfielder due to personnel shortages. However, the 2001-born player struggled in the early minutes, and disaster struck in the 10th minute.
After a pass from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Garcia mishandled the ball and was forced to foul Takumi Minamino just outside the box. The referee showed a straight red card, leaving Barcelona with 10 men.
Monaco is a Tough Opponent
Barcelona is no stranger to Monaco, having faced them just over a month ago. On August 13, Adi Hutter’s team defeated Hansi Flick’s side 3-0 to win the Joan Gamper trophy.
Arriving in France with the aim of avenging that loss, Barcelona struggled significantly. Garcia’s red card stemmed from the impressive pressing play by the home side, who then capitalized on their numerical advantage to score twice.
Lamine Yamal Shines Again
After going down to 10 men, Barcelona was hit with another setback when they conceded a goal in the 16th minute. Just when it seemed like they were heading for a rout, the most promising star on the visiting side, Yamal, stepped up. His goal in the 28th minute gave his teammates a confidence boost, and they only succumbed again in the 71st minute as fatigue set in.
Injury Concerns
Towards the end of the match, young midfielder Marc Casado had a strong collision with a home player. Flick’s face showed concern upon witnessing that moment. Although the German coach reassured fans after the match that Casado was fine and could play against Villarreal this weekend, it also served as a warning for Barcelona. The upcoming dense schedule could lead to a “storm of injuries.”
Barca “Brought Back to Earth”
After five consecutive wins in La Liga, Blaugrana fans were envisioning a highly successful season in both La Liga and the Champions League. Coach Flick even stated that his team had the potential to reach the top of Europe this season.
However, following this morning’s defeat, both fans and players of the Catalan giant realized that the road to winning major titles in the 2024/25 campaign would be extremely challenging. If AS Monaco can pose such difficulties, facing Bayern Munich or Manchester City would likely spell certain defeat for Barca.