Barcelona Player Ratings: Garcia Red, Monaco Win
Barcelona suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to AS Monaco in their first pre-season friendly of the summer. Here's a look at the individual performances of the Blaugrana players:
Marc-André ter Stegen (6/10): The German goalkeeper made a couple of decent saves, but he was unable to prevent Monaco from scoring twice. He was generally solid in possession.
Sergi Roberto (6/10): Roberto started the game at right-back and displayed his usual energy and work rate. He was defensively solid but didn’t offer much in attack.
Jules Koundé (5/10): Koundé struggled to adapt to the intense pressing style of Monaco. He was caught out of position on a few occasions, leading to dangerous opportunities for the French side.
Andreas Christensen (6/10): Christensen was relatively steady in defense. He looked comfortable on the ball, but the Monaco attack put him under constant pressure.
Alejandro Balde (7/10): Balde started on the left-hand side and showed promising signs. He was a constant threat going forward with his pace and dribbling ability. However, he could be exposed defensively at times.
Frenkie de Jong (7/10): De Jong displayed his usual composure and control in midfield. He was a calming presence and linked up well with his teammates.
Gavi (6/10): The young midfielder showed flashes of brilliance with his energy and passing range. He looked a bit fatigued towards the end, which affected his effectiveness.
Pedri (6/10): Pedri had a quiet game but still managed to show his usual intelligent movement and passing accuracy. He was more involved in the build-up play rather than pushing forward.
Raphinha (5/10): The Brazilian winger was ineffective throughout the match. He was unable to create any danger going forward and was often isolated on the right flank.
Ansu Fati (7/10): Fati looked lively in the attacking third and was involved in the build-up to Barcelona's lone goal. He showcased his pace and dribbling skills but missed a few crucial opportunities.
Robert Lewandowski (6/10): Lewandowski looked sharp in the final third, but he was not afforded many clear-cut chances. He was often isolated in the box.
Substitutes:
Sergiño Dest (6/10): Dest came on as a substitute and injected some energy into the attack. He was dangerous going forward but couldn’t help Barcelona find an equalizer.
Ferran Torres (6/10): Torres looked lively in the second half, providing some spark in the attack, but he was unable to create a real threat.
Iñaki Peña (N/A): The backup goalkeeper didn’t have enough time to make an impact.
Eric Garcia (5/10): Garcia's game was marred by a red card in the second half. He conceded a penalty and received his marching orders for a harsh foul on the attacker.
Overall:
Barcelona showed a lack of cohesion and struggled to create clear-cut chances in the game. The defense looked shaky, and the midfield was overrun at times. The red card to Garcia was a major turning point, as it disrupted the team’s rhythm and forced them to play with a numerical disadvantage.
This was just a pre-season friendly, and Barcelona have time to work on their fitness and tactical execution before the season officially begins. The fans will be hoping for a more cohesive and convincing performance in the upcoming matches.
