Barcelona Player Ratings: Monaco Loss, Garcia Red
Barcelona's Champions League campaign got off to a disastrous start with a 2-1 loss to AS Monaco at the Stade Louis II. The Blaugrana dominated possession but lacked the cutting edge in the final third, while a controversial red card for Eric Garcia in the second half compounded their woes. Here's a look at the individual performances of the Barcelona players:
Marc-André ter Stegen (6/10): The German goalkeeper made a few decent saves, but couldn't do much about the two goals Monaco scored. He was largely untroubled for most of the game, but was left stranded on Monaco's opening goal.
Jules Koundé (6/10): The French defender was solid defensively, making some important tackles and interceptions. However, he struggled to get forward as much as he would have liked, and his passing was not as accurate as usual.
Eric Garcia (4/10): The Spanish center-back had a mixed game. He looked shaky at times, leading to a key foul that resulted in a penalty and his sending off. His decision-making was questionable, and his red card left Barcelona with a mountain to climb.
Andreas Christensen (6/10): The Danish defender had a good game, making crucial tackles and clearances. His performance was steady, but he was unable to prevent Monaco from scoring.
Alejandro Balde (7/10): The young left-back was one of the best players on the pitch for Barcelona. He was constantly a threat down the left flank, creating numerous chances with his pace and dribbling skills.
Frenkie de Jong (6/10): The Dutch midfielder had a decent performance, but lacked his usual dynamism. He controlled the midfield for spells but struggled to impose himself on the game.
Gavi (6/10): The young Spanish midfielder was lively in possession and worked tirelessly, but lacked his usual cutting edge. His efforts were ultimately not enough to influence the outcome of the game.
Pedri (6/10): The Spanish midfielder was Barcelona's main creative outlet, trying to orchestrate attacks from midfield. He was involved in the build-up to several chances, but lacked accuracy in the final third.
Ousmane Dembélé (5/10): The French winger was disappointing. He failed to make a significant impact on the game and was ineffective going forward.
Robert Lewandowski (5/10): The Polish striker struggled to get into the game. He was isolated upfront for long spells, and his frustration was evident. Despite his efforts, he couldn't find the back of the net.
Ansu Fati (6/10): The Spanish forward came on as a substitute and added some attacking impetus. He showed glimpses of his talent, but it was too little, too late.
Substitutes:
Raphinha (6/10): The Brazilian winger was a bright spark after coming on as a substitute, showing some creativity and energy.
Sergio Busquets (6/10): The veteran midfielder came on late and provided some experience and control.
Overall:
Barcelona's performance against Monaco was disappointing. The team lacked the finishing touch in the final third and their defensive organization was poor. The red card to Eric Garcia was a turning point in the game, and it highlighted the lack of depth in Barcelona's squad. If they are to make a serious run in the Champions League, they will need to improve significantly.
This performance should be a wake-up call for Xavi and his team. They need to find a way to be more clinical in front of goal and solidify their defense if they want to achieve their ambitions this season.
