Barcelona Player Ratings: Monaco Defeat, Garcia Red
Barcelona's pre-season tour of the United States took a sour turn with a 1-0 defeat to AS Monaco on Wednesday night. The game, played at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, saw a disappointing performance from the Catalan giants, with a red card for Eric Garcia and a lackluster display in attack highlighting their struggles. Here's a breakdown of the Barcelona players' performances:
Starting XI:
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Marc-André ter Stegen (6/10): Ter Stegen was largely untroubled in the first half, with Monaco not posing much of a threat. He could do little about Wissam Ben Yedder's goal and made a couple of solid saves in the second half.
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Jules Koundé (7/10): Koundé was one of the few bright spots for Barcelona. He looked solid at the back, displaying his usual composure and ability to read the game. His passing was also impressive, creating a few chances in the final third.
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Ronald Araújo (6/10): Araujo was a bit shaky in the opening stages, but he gradually settled into the game. He was generally strong in the air and made a few crucial tackles.
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Eric Garcia (4/10): Garcia's performance was marred by a rash challenge on Breel Embolo that resulted in a red card in the 51st minute. He was also caught out of position on a few occasions leading up to the goal.
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Alejandro Balde (5/10): Balde struggled to make an impact offensively and looked vulnerable defensively at times. He was replaced by Marcos Alonso in the second half.
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Frenkie de Jong (6/10): de Jong was his usual industrious self, but he lacked his usual creativity in the midfield. He made a few good interceptions and played some neat passes, but couldn't quite unlock the Monaco defense.
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Gavi (6/10): Gavi was lively and energetic, showing flashes of his usual brilliance, but he lacked the end product in the final third. He was substituted in the second half.
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Pedri (6/10): Pedri, like de Jong, was solid but not spectacular. He displayed his trademark passing range and ability to control the tempo, but he was unable to create any clear-cut chances.
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Raphinha (5/10): Raphinha struggled to impose himself on the game. He was often isolated on the right wing and failed to find his rhythm.
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Ousmane Dembélé (5/10): Dembélé was anonymous for much of the game. He lacked the pace and penetration that usually characterize his play.
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Robert Lewandowski (6/10): Lewandowski was a constant threat in the penalty area but was denied a clear-cut chance by Monaco's well-organized defense. He was replaced by Ferran Torres in the second half.
Substitutes:
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Marcos Alonso (6/10): Alonso added some experience and solidity to the backline after coming on for Balde.
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Ferran Torres (6/10): Torres showed some nice touches after coming on for Lewandowski, but couldn't find the back of the net.
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Sergi Roberto (6/10): Roberto came on for Gavi and added some energy to the midfield.
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Ilkay Gündogan (6/10): Gündogan entered the game late and brought some creativity to the midfield.
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Ansu Fati (5/10): Fati had a limited impact after coming on for Raphinha.
Overall:
Barcelona's performance was disappointing, lacking the fluidity and sharpness expected of a team of their quality. While the defeat was frustrating, it's important to remember that it was a pre-season friendly and the team is still in the early stages of their preparations.
However, the lack of creativity and the red card for Garcia will be cause for concern for manager Xavi Hernandez, who will need to find solutions before the start of the new season.
