Barça competed with 10 men for just over 80 minutes / Photo: Internet
FC Barcelona lost 2-1 on Thursday in their visit to AS Monaco and got off to a bad start in the 2024/2025 season of the European Champions League.
Eric García’s expulsion in the 10th minute forced the Catalans to play with one man less for almost the entire match, which was played at the Stade Louis II in the Principality of Monaco.
A defensive error by the Blaugranas, who wore black today, was taken advantage of by the Nigerian George Ilenihkhena to tip the result in favour of the home team, who weeks earlier had beaten Barça 3-0 in the friendly match for the Joan Gamper trophy.
Error and expulsion
Around the 10th minute of the match, Barcelona was left with one less player after the expulsion of Eric García, a natural central defender who started the match as a defensive midfielder.
The Spanish footballer received a direct red card for bringing down an opponent on the edge of the area, after the latter won possession of the ball following a compromised pass from goalkeeper Marc André Ter Stegen.
Maghnes Akliouche put Monaco ahead with a left-footed shot off the left post in the 16th minute. Lamine Yamal equalised in the 28th minute from a similar play, but his shot was saved from outside the area.
The home team had a couple of chances to take the lead, but they were wasted. They finally managed to capitalise in the 71st minute, when Ilenihkhena effectively finished off a one-on-one with the visiting goalkeeper.
Other results
In the other five matches of the day, Atlético de Madrid beat RB Leipzig 2-1, Benfica beat Red Star Belgrade by the same scoreline and Bayer Leverkusen thrashed Feyenoord 4-0.
Brest won 2-1 over Sturm Graz, while Arsenal and Atalanta drew 0-0.
Puerto La Cruz / Javier A. Guaipo
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2024-09-20 12:48:43
