Barcelona Player Ratings: Garcia Red Card, Monaco Defeat
Barcelona's pre-season tour took a disappointing turn in a 1-0 defeat to AS Monaco, with a frustrating performance overshadowed by a red card for defender Eric Garcia. Let's take a look at the individual performances of the Barcelona players.
Starting XI
Marc-André ter Stegen (6.5/10): Ter Stegen made a couple of key saves, including a penalty stop in the first half, but was ultimately unable to keep Monaco at bay. His distribution was sharp, though, and he consistently looked confident.
Jules Koundé (7/10): Koundé was a rock at the back, making crucial interceptions and tackles. He was a consistent presence in the backline, and his ability to play out from the back was evident.
Eric Garcia (4/10): Garcia's pre-season continues to be troubled, with a poor performance culminating in a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Mohamed Camara. He needs to regain his composure and consistency before the start of the La Liga season.
Ronald Araújo (6/10): A solid performance from Araújo, who was a constant threat in the air and provided crucial defensive cover. He looked assured in possession and was a reassuring presence at the back.
Alejandro Balde (7/10): Balde was a constant menace on the left flank, providing dangerous crosses and bursts forward. He was one of the few Barcelona players who looked genuinely threatening going forward.
Frenkie de Jong (6/10): De Jong worked tirelessly in midfield, but his passing was often misplaced. He struggled to assert his influence on the game, and his performance was underwhelming.
Oriol Romeu (6/10): A solid debut from Romeu, who provided a defensive presence in midfield. He was disciplined in his approach and offered a sense of control. However, his passing lacked accuracy, and he lacked the dynamism that Barcelona often relies on.
Pedri (6/10): Pedri played with his usual energy and intent, but his passing accuracy was lacking. He struggled to create clear-cut chances and was ultimately subdued by the Monaco defense.
Gavi (7/10): Gavi, despite being on the wrong side of 20 years old, again stood out as a key player in the attack. He was constantly involved in the Barcelona attack and made dangerous runs. His passing was precise and he was a constant threat to the Monaco defense.
Raphinha (5/10): Raphinha was lively on the right wing, but his end product was lacking. He was unable to create genuine chances and his final ball was often wayward.
Robert Lewandowski (5/10): Lewandowski struggled to make an impact against a well-organized Monaco defense. He was largely isolated up front and was unable to influence the game as effectively as he has in previous pre-season outings.
Substitutes
Ansu Fati (6/10): Fati injected energy and creativity into the attack when he came on. He was a constant threat and created several dangerous chances.
Ferran Torres (6/10): Torres also offered a spark off the bench, providing a sense of dynamism in the attack. He worked hard and created a few good opportunities, but ultimately lacked the cutting edge needed to break down the Monaco defense.
Ilaix Moriba (N/A): Not enough time to judge.
Abde Ezzalzouli (N/A): Not enough time to judge.
Sergi Roberto (N/A): Not enough time to judge.
Overall
Barcelona's pre-season tour took a turn for the worse with the loss to Monaco. The team looked disjointed and lacked their usual attacking spark. The red card for Eric Garcia is a significant setback and will likely impact their upcoming games.
Positives: Balde's performance was a highlight, while the debuts of Romeu and Gavi were encouraging.
Negatives: Barcelona's lack of creativity in attack, the red card for Garcia, and the overall lack of fluidity in their play were major concerns.
Barcelona will need to improve their performance quickly, especially in light of the loss of Garcia for their upcoming fixtures. They face a crucial test against Tottenham Hotspur next, and they will need to be much better if they are to avoid another disappointing result.
