September 19, (THEWILL) – Barcelona’s unbeaten start to the season ended abruptly as they fell to Monaco in their UEFA Champions League opener. The Catalan giants, reduced to 10 men early on, struggled to contain the French side despite a valiant effort.
Eric Garcia’s dismissal in the 10th minute for a professional foul set the tone for a challenging evening. Monaco capitalised quickly, with Maghnes Akliouche netting the opener. However, Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal equalised, becoming the second-youngest scorer in Champions League history at 17 years and 68 days.
The numerical advantage eventually happened for Monaco in the second half. George Ilenikhena’s goal proved decisive, condemning Barcelona to their first competitive defeat under new manager Hansi Flick. The loss marks a disappointing start to Barcelona’s UCL campaign in the newly formatted league phase.
Despite the setback, Barcelona’s domestic form remains strong, with five wins from five in La Liga. This European defeat, however, highlights the challenges Flick faces in balancing domestic success with continental ambitions. The team’s ability to bounce back will be crucial as they navigate a congested fixture list.
The result puts early pressure on Barcelona in a competitive UCL group. With matches against other top European sides looming, Flick’s team will need to regroup quickly to keep their knockout stage hopes alive. The focus now shifts to how they respond in their next European outing.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
