Barcelona's perfect start to the season hit its first stumbling block when defender Eric Garcia was sent off after just 11 minutes at Monaco in the revamped Champions League on Thursday. The Catalan side was reduced to 10 men after Garcia pulled back Takumi Minamino when the Japan forward intercepted a panicky pass out from Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. This was a major blow for Barcelona, who were hoping to make a strong start to the league phase of their 2024-25 Champions League campaign.
A Costly Error
Garcia’s red card came as a result of a costly error by Ter Stegen, who gifted possession to Monaco in Barcelona’s final third. It was a decision that left the referee with no choice but to issue a red card, as Garcia committed the foul on the edge of the penalty area. Ter Stegen had several better options to choose from instead of the pass that he tried to make. Garcia has taken the punishment for it, and now Barcelona will surely find it very difficult to secure a positive result from this one.
Monaco Capitalizes
Monaco capitalized on the man advantage, taking the lead in the 16th through midfielder Maghnes Akliouche. Akliouche, who represented France at the Paris Olympics, scored from the right side of the penalty area with national team coach Didier Deschamps watching. Deschamps was not the only well-known face in the crowd at Stade Louis II. Basketball great Michael Jordan was there, too.
Yamal Steps Up
Despite being a man down, Barcelona managed to equalize in the 28th minute thanks to a fine left-footed strike from teenage superstar Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old sensation received praise from Barcelona boss Hansi Flick after an impressive start to the campaign. He said: “He's really incredible, a difference maker at such a young age. Having him is key for us not only because of his quality, but he also presses very well high. He combines talent and pressure and that's massive for us. He is outstanding.”
A Long Evening
While Barcelona managed to salvage a draw, the early red card cast a shadow over the rest of the match. It was a very long evening for the Blaugrana, who will have to learn from this experience and move on. The game has shown that they need to be more careful in possession, especially when playing away from home.
A Lesson Learned?
The red card to Garcia served as a harsh reminder that mistakes can be costly in the Champions League. Barcelona will need to learn from this setback and focus on tightening up their defense for their upcoming matches. They will also need to find a way to cope with the loss of a key player for an extended period of time. This experience could be valuable, forcing Barcelona to adapt and develop alternative strategies. But it’s a lesson that they’ll hope to not have to relearn.
