After a strong start in La Liga, Barcelona fans were hoping their club would do something similar in the UEFA Champions League.
Unfortunately, this was not carried out.
Blaugrana were beaten 2-1 by AS Monaco at a surprisingly packed Stade Louis II on Thursday evening, with a 71st-minute goal from George Ilenikhena proving to be the difference between the two sides.
Here’s a winner and two losers from a bad loss Barça in the Champions Leagueseconds 90 minutes beloved player ratings.
Yamal foil: 8/10
Although Barça were defeated, Lamine Yamal’s stock continued to rise on Thursday evening.
The 17-year-old was, once again, absolutely sensational.
After cleverly using his body to steal behind Vanderson on the right flank, the youngster cut onto his favored left foot and drilled the ball into the bottom right corner of the net for his third goal in two parties
That strike was also his eighth goal of the season.
He is too good.
Eric Garcia: 2/10
Drafted into midfield after Dani Olmo was hit with a hamstring injury, it’s fair to say Eric Garcia didn’t make the expected impact on Thursday’s proceedings.
Instead of providing a solid base from which Barça could build their attack, he dragged down Takumi Minamino and earned himself a red card within ten minutes.
It’s not ideal.
His red card ultimately cost Hansi Flick’s side the game.
dishonorable mention
Marc-Andre ter Stegen: 4/10
Although it was Eric Garcia who received the red card, it was Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s ill-advised pass that got the former Man City man into trouble and forced him to haul Minamino to the ground.
Their distribution hasn’t improved much afterwards either, with Monaco pressing high up the park and forcing the keeper into mistake after mistake on the ball, completing just 64% of their passes as a result.
On top of that, Ter Stegen should also have saved Ilenikhena’s strike as he was basically shot straight at him.
