Barcelona lost 3:0 to Monaco this evening (Monday) in the traditional Gamper Cup, in what was Hanzi Flick’s debut match at the Monjuic Stadium. The German coach can have a lot on his mind after such a result, as Barca will open the 2024/25 La Liga season in just five days, in a not-so-easy away game against Valencia.
The match itself opened with complete control of Barcelona. The visitors were almost non-existent on the field in the first 30 minutes, in which the Catalans threatened Philippe Cone’s goal several times. In the last quarter of an hour to the first half, there was a certain turn, Monaco gained confidence and began to enter the game and transfer possession of the ball to their feet.
The second half started with a storm. Out of nowhere and after a serious mistake by Inigo Martinez in defense, Lamin Camara put the French runner-up in the lead in the 50th minute. Only seven minutes passed, and it was this time that the Swiss striker Beryl Ambulo did not get confused one on one against Marc-Andre ter Stegen and doubled the advantage.
Hanzi Flick is surprised (Reuters)
Barca would look shocked, but tried to get back into the game. The host woke up a bit and the substitution of Lamin Yamal woke up the Catalans. Apart from his influence on the pitch, the young player received many applauses from the local crowd, remembering his tremendous summer with the Spanish national team, with which he won the Euros and finished as the king of assists of the tournament.
Barcelona’s attempts to reduce the score came to naught, and in the 86th minute Christian Mvisa completed a perfect burst attack for Monaco and poked the third into Ter Stegen’s net. The game ended in a home defeat for Barcelona, for whom this is the first loss in the Gamper Cup for the first time since 2012.
The worrying result will keep Flick busy, and he and his men will want to improve on the ability they showed today in their first La Liga game against Valencia on Saturday at 22:30. On the other hand, Monaco will return to France and start their journey in the local league on Saturday at 22:00 in a home match against Saint Etienne.
Barcelona players are disappointed (Reuters)
First half:
1 minute: Referee Victor Garcia started the match!
Hanzi Flick debuts in Montjuic (Reuters)
Minute 1: First and quick chance for Barcelona. Rafinha broke forward on the left wing and passed a cross to Pau Victor in the box, the latter kicked over the frame.
Pau Victor (Reuters)
12th minute: The Catalans looked for the goal again. This time it was Pablo Toure who took a corner, Inigo Martinez rose high and hit a shot that went wide of Philipp Kehn’s right post.
16th minute: Robert Lewandowski tried his luck and swung his leg from about 20 meters, Kon was on the spot and took the kick.
Robert Lewandowski (Reuters)
30th minute: The game continues under the almost complete control of Barca. The host has the ball and is looking for the goal, the guest almost does not exist on the field.
36th minute: Monaco came close to the goal for the first time. Brill Embolo got into a one-on-one situation with Ter Stegen, the goalkeeper went to the ball and kept the danger away.
Pau Victor Poretz (Reuters)
Second half:
50th minute: A goal! Monaco went up to 1:0: out of nowhere. Inigo Martins did not notice that the ball was handed to him in the Catalans’ box, Lamin Camara pounced on the mistake and from a short distance put the ball in Ter Stegen’s net.
57th minute: A goal! Monaco went up to 2:0: The Catalans are shocked. This time it was Beryl Embolo’s turn, who received a pass inside the box, and in a one-on-one situation with Ter Stegen, the striker kicked the ball into the left corner of the net and beat the German goalkeeper.
Barcelona absorb (Reuters)
67th minute: To the sound of many applauses from the stands, Lamin Yamal came on to play in place of Robert Lewandowski. The 17-year-old talent arrived for the first time in Monjuic after the big summer for him, which ended in winning the Euros with Spain as the tournament’s top scorer.
Lamin Yamal (Reuters)
71st minute: The Catalans missed a great opportunity to reduce the score. Lamin Yamal put in an impressive deep ball for Pau Victor in the box, but his attempted bounce over Kon missed the net.
Rafinha Foretz (Reuters)
86th minute: A goal! 0:3 to Monaco: Barcelona tried to get back into the game and score the clinching goal, but Christian Mvisa nailed the third into Ter Stegen’s net at the end of an explosive attack. This is already an unpleasant defeat for the Catalans.
Minute 90+7: Referee Victor Garcia blew his whistle to end the game! Barcelona lost 3:0 to Monaco in Hanzi Flick’s debut in Montjuic.
Barcelona lineup: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (Inaki Panya ’77), Alejandro Balda (Gerard Martin ’67), Inigo Martins, Jules Conde (Hector Fort ’67), Andreas Christensen (Sergi Dominguez ’46), Pablo Torre (Ilkay Gondwan ’46 (Fran Torres ’67)), Marc Bernal (Tony Fernandez ’88), Marc Casado, Rafinha (Koim Juniette ’88), Pau Victor and Robert Lewandowski (Lamin Yamal ’67).
Monaco lineup: Philip Cone, Eliasa Ben Sagir (Kayo Henrique ’76), Lamin Kamara (Aden Diop ’81), Ismail Jacobs (Ouatra Kasom ’93), Tilo Kahrer, Takumi Minamino (Simon Buabra ’81), Mohamed Salisu, Vanderson ( Christian Mwisa ’81), Denis Zakaria (Eliot Matazo ’88), Florian Balgon (Lucas Michael ’93) and Beryl Ambulo (George Ilynykha ’76).
