An unfortunate start – from Barcelona’s goalkeeper, one of their midfielders and the referee – created an eventful encounter at the Stade Louis II on Thursday as one of America’s greatest sportsmen looked on.
Eric Garcia was sent off early on, despite initially receiving a yellow card for bringing down Takumi Minamino following a hospital pass from Marc Andre ter Stegen. A red card was eventually confirmed (despite referee Allard Lindhout initially showing yellow) and Garcia walked.
Monaco quickly took the lead through 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, before NBA legend Michael Jordan, who watched from the stands, brought 10-man Barca level and became the second-youngest goalscorer in the Champions League.
However, playing with ten men took its toll and Monaco secured the three points when George Ilenikhena scored the winner.
Here, Thom Harris and Laia Cervello break down the action.
Michael Jordan was in attendance (MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)
Comedy of errors: Ter Stegen, Garcia – and the referee
It’s hard 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 never quite clicked.
He was given an unexpected opportunity tonight – stepping into a defensive midfield role to allow Marc Casado to step forward in Dani Olmo’s absence – but it was 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 try to play out from the back, and immediately identified an out-of-position centre-back at the base of midfield as an area to pounce.
Garcia was not helped by his goalkeeper Ter Stegen, whose indecisiveness meant that the simple pass to either Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez was shut down. Minamino stuck to Garcia like glue in the opening moments, and took off as soon as he sensed the hesitation in Ter Stegen’s mind.
Garcia positions himself to let the pass roll across his body and into midfield, shielding Minamino’s ball on his back, but the ball lacks pace and allows the former Liverpool man to nip forward.
Desperately trying to recover, a mix up of legs and a subsequent trip denied a clear scoring chance.
For UK viewers:
Barcelona go down to 10 men early on as Eric Garcia is sent off after a slight card mix-up… 😳
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/QwYILxa0Qx
— Soccer on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 19, 2024
For US viewers:
Barcelona go down to 10 men in the 10th minute after Eric Garcia gets a straight red 😳 pic.twitter.com/TMYu4u0uTU
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 19, 2024
At first, the referee raised the yellow card. Before then reveal redness. There were no complaints from Garcia, except those definitely aimed at his guardian.
At 9 minutes 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 mix-up with his legs.
It left Barcelona exposed for an alarming spell in the immediate aftermath, as Monaco found real joy in attacking Alejandro Balde’s side with additional support from rampant full-back Wilfried Singo, able to double that side with the man advantage.
Garcia just can’t seem to escape the spotlight; after a leap forward last season, this was another unfortunate step back.
Thom Harris
Is Yamal Barca’s talisman 17 years old?
The moments just come too thick and fast for Yamal for this to just be a flash in the pan. The 17-year-old Barcelona winger is a real game-breaker, and this was another competition he turned on his head.
Things looked tense after the early red as Monaco threw men forward and trapped Barcelona in their own defensive third. Just weathering the storm would have been 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 far beyond his years – a sudden change of pace to outrun a trailing defender, allowing him to latch onto the rebound ball, as well as a quick hack back to put Mohamed Salisu on the. back foot, and the curling finish back across goal and into the bottom corner.
Already his fourth goal this season, in addition to four assists, he makes quite a habit of stepping up. More generally, the assurance of Yamal in possession gave Barcelona a reliable outlet to avoid pressure, keeping the width down the right side, always available for the rasta switch of play.
As his passes received map below illustrates, Flick’s side were not afraid to use that pass, already placing so much faith in their ability to bring the ball down, drift inside and create danger without the need for too much support.
The statistics support Yamal’s influence so far this season, not only the player with the most touches in the opposite 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 already exists.
Thom Harris
No luck for Pedri
The red card for Garcia not only frustrated the central defender, who had difficulty getting minutes, but also Pedri.
The midfielder seems to have fully recovered from the various injuries he suffered in recent seasons and has found his best form in a position closer to the penalty area.
One of the doubts before the game was how Hansi Flick would make up for Dani Olmo’s absence. The head coach decided to line up with two players closer to the base of the box: Garcia and Marc Casado.
This would leave more freedom to Pedri, on the left side, to advance and make more forays into the opposition box. However, with the dismissal of Garcia, Pedri had to move back a little more, leaving Raphinha as a league player.
Due to a very unfortunate situation, not of his making, Pedri could not play in the position in which he shines the most. However, he continued to be intense in pressing and recovering balls.
Lay’s Brain
What next for Barcelona?
Sunday, September 22: Villarreal (A), Competition, 17:30 (GMT), 12:30 (ET)
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(Top photo: MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)
