Barcelona Player Ratings: Garcia Red, Monaco Defeat
Barcelona's Champions League journey came to a disappointing end on Tuesday, as they were defeated 3-1 by AS Monaco at the Stade Louis II. The Blaugrana were undone by a combination of poor defending, a lack of attacking threat, and the red card shown to Eric Garcia.
Here's a look at the player ratings from the frustrating encounter:
Ter Stegen (6/10): Made some decent saves but was helpless against Monaco's relentless pressure. Could have done better with the first goal, but it was a difficult shot to stop.
Koundé (5/10): Struggled to cope with the pace and power of Monaco's attackers, particularly in the first half. Was caught out of position for the opening goal.
Eric Garcia (4/10): Committed a needless foul that led to his red card, ultimately tipping the scales in Monaco's favor.
Araujo (6/10): The most solid defender in the backline, providing some much-needed stability and leadership.
Balde (6.5/10): One of Barcelona's better performers, showcasing his pace and dribbling skills down the left flank. His delivery was decent but lacked the final touch.
De Jong (6.5/10): Showed glimpses of his quality, distributing the ball efficiently and pressing high up the pitch. However, he wasn't able to find the killer pass in the final third.
Gavi (6/10): A tireless worker in midfield, but lacked the creativity and precision required to break down Monaco's resolute defense.
Pedri (6/10): Tried to dictate the tempo, but the lack of support made it difficult for him to exert his influence on the game.
Raphinha (5/10): Frustratingly inconsistent performance. Showed flashes of his ability but was unable to translate his talent into clear-cut scoring opportunities.
Lewandowski (6/10): Struggled to get into the game, but showed his clinical finishing with a well-taken penalty in the first half.
Dembélé (5/10): Subbed off early in the second half after a disappointing performance. Lacked his usual attacking spark and struggled to link up with his teammates.
Substitutes:
Ferran Torres (6/10): Added some energy and urgency upon entering the game, but ultimately couldn't turn the tide.
Ansu Fati (6/10): Tried to make things happen, but the game was already beyond Barcelona's reach.
Conclusion:
The defeat against Monaco was a harsh reminder of the work still needed for Barcelona to return to their former glory. The team looked disjointed and lacking in confidence, with poor defending and a lack of attacking creativity proving to be their downfall.
The red card to Eric Garcia was a turning point, but the team needs to show more resilience and intensity to compete at the highest level. It's a disappointing end to their Champions League campaign, and Xavi Hernandez will be keen to address the issues that prevented his team from progressing to the next round.
