Barcelona suffered its first competitive defeat under Hansi Flick in its Champions League opening match. The Catalans found five wins in five matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding only four. The pressure was on Flick to translate Barcelona's early success to the Champions League, a competition the club struggled to find success in over the last few years. Barcelona's first European test came against Monaco away from home.
The Spanish side dominated possession from kickoff, using quick passes to dissect and probe Monaco's disciplined backline. Barcelona was caught out, though, when Marc-André ter Stegen played a poor pass out the back to Eric García. Takumi Minamino pickpocketed the midfielder at the edge of the box, prompting García to make a last-ditch, clumsy tackle that resulted in a straight red card.
Down to 10 men, the visitors conceded just six minutes later. Barcelona practically watched Maghnes Akliouche dribble into the box, switch to his left foot and blast a shot past a stationary ter Stegen. It was none other than Lamine Yamal, though, who pulled Barcelona back into the game with an equalizer in the 28th minute.
The second half unfolded without much drama from either side until the 72nd minute. Barcelona was caught out on a ball over the top, playing George Ilenikhena through on goal while Iñigo Martínez trailed behind. The substitute put his side up 2–1 and ultimately sealed the game for the hosts.
Monaco though it would get a chance from the spot to double its lead, but a VAR review determined Martínez did not foul Folarin Balogun in the box.
Barcelona could not find a last-minute equalizer and headed back to Spain with zero points.
Barcelona's Red Card Blunder
It’s difficult not to feel for Garcia. Following a stellar season on loan at Girona, the 23-year-old returned to Barcelona in the summer, where it has never quite clicked. He was given an unexpected opportunity tonight — stepping into a defensive midfield role to allow Marc Casado to step forward in the absence of Dani Olmo — but it was one fraught with risk. Monaco led the way for high turnovers in Ligue 1 last season, not afraid to push high and apply pressure when the opposition attempted to play out from the back, and they immediately identified an out-of-position centre-back at the base of Barcelona’s midfield as an area to pounce.
Garcia was not helped by his goalkeeper Ter Stegen, whose indecision meant that the simple pass to either Pau Cubarsi or Inigo Martinez was closed down. Minamino stuck to Garcia like glue in the opening moments and darted forward as soon as he sensed the hesitation on Ter Stegen’s mind.
Garcia positions himself to let the pass roll across his body and into midfield, shielding the ball from Minamino on his back, but the ball lacks pace and allows the former Liverpool man to nip in ahead. Desperately trying to recover, a tangle of legs and a subsequent trip denied a clear goalscoring opportunity. Initially, the referee raised the yellow card. Before later revealing a red. There were no complaints from Garcia, apart from those surely to be aimed at his keeper.
At 9 minutes and 26 seconds, it became the earliest dismissal in Barcelona’s Champions League history, just five months after Ronald Araujo was sent off after 29 minutes against Paris Saint-Germain for a similar tangle of legs. It left Barcelona exposed for an alarming spell in the immediate aftermath, as Monaco found real joy attacking Alejandro Balde’s flank with extra support from rampant full-back Wilfried Singo, able to double up on that side with the man advantage.
Lamine Yamal's Rising Star
The moments are simply coming too thick and fast for Yamal for this to just be a flash in the pan. Barcelona’s 17-year-old winger is a genuine game-breaker, and this was another contest that he almost tilted on its head.
Things were looking shakey after the early red, as Monaco threw men forward and trapped Barcelona in their own defensive third. Just weathering the storm would have been a positive, but a floated pass over the top from Casado to give Yamal a run at his full-back was all that was required to get back into the game.
The subtleties of the goal showed experience well beyond his age: a sudden change of pace to hold off a back-tracking defender, allowing him to latch directly onto the bouncing ball, as well as a quick chop back inside to put Mohammed Salisu on the back foot, and the crisp finish back across goal and into the bottom corner.
Already his fourth goal this season, on top of four assists, he is making quite the habit of stepping up. More generally, Yamal’s assurance in possession gave Barcelona a reliable outlet to escape pressure, holding the width down the right-hand side, always available for the raking switch of play. As his passes-received map below illustrates, Flick’s side weren’t afraid to use that pass, already placing so much trust in his ability to bring the ball down, drift inside, and create danger without the need for too much support.
The statistics back up Yamal’s influence so far this season, not only the player with the most touches in the opposition half in La Liga but also with the most ball-recoveries and tackles in the final third. Although not Barcelona’s night, this was another game that illustrated not only the potential, the ability that is already there.
Monaco's Home Advantage
Monaco played with a one-man advantage for 80 minutes but needed a break-away goal from an 18-year-old to secure the win against Barcelona. George Ilenikhena had few touches during the game but he made his chance count, firing coolly past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to win it for the hosts.
Monaco were made to work for it but they saw the game out to begin their UCL campaign with a home win over Barcelona.
Monaco took advantage of their numerical superiority and enjoyed a spell of possession in the Barcelona half. The visitors couldn't get the ball back, they were chasing shadows.
The hosts come forward again making the most of their numerical advantage to switch the play swiftly from side to side.
The free kick is 25 yards from goal, right of centre. It’s Raphinha who steps up to take it but he curls the ball harmlessly over the crossbar. A wasted opportunity for Barcelona.
Good work from Raphinha on the edge of the Monaco box, skipping past Zakaria and wining his team a free kick in a dangerous position.
Barcelona come forward again but resort to lumping a ball in towards Ferran Torres in the box. The former Manchester City man is not the same physical presence as Lewandowski and Kohn comes out to claim easily.
The corner kick comes to nothing.
A Look at the Future
The Champions League is not short on glamour but the arrival of Michael Jordan certainly takes things up another level. The NBA star is at Stade Louis II to watch this UCL clash.
Tonight's goal is another milestone in the incredible career of Lamine Yamal. The Barcelona sensation holds a whole host of records for his team and the Spanish national side.
The final night of action from week one of the expanded competition sees Monaco host Barcelona. The Catalan giants are looking to build on their impressive form in LaLiga, where they have won five out of five to start 2024/25.
In recent years, Barcelona has flattered to deceive in Europe. Despite a LaLiga triumph in 2022/23 the team has struggled to adapt to the loss of Lionel Messi, an era-defining talent, and has dropped from it's position at the pinnacle of the club game. But this year, with Hansi Flick at the helm and a whole host of young stars, this Barca side could once again challenge for the UCL.
Don't just take our word for it. Five-time Champions League winner Cristiano Ronaldo had his say on Lamine Yamal recently, revealing that he expects the youngster to become one of the world's top stars.
It's been quite the start for Lamine Yamal. Just two months on from his 17th birthday the Barcelona academy graduate is one of the most feared attacking talents in world soccer and he's hoping to lead his team to glory this year.
