Barcelona Player Ratings: Monaco Loss, Garcia Red Card Impact
Barcelona's pre-season tour of the United States concluded with a disappointing 3-1 loss to AS Monaco. The match, part of the Soccer Champions Tour, highlighted the Blaugrana's defensive vulnerabilities and the impact of a controversial red card shown to Eric Garcia. Here's a breakdown of the player ratings:
Marc-André ter Stegen (5/10): Ter Stegen was largely a spectator for much of the game, but he couldn't do much to prevent Monaco's goals. His distribution was also a bit shaky at times.
Sergi Roberto (6/10): Roberto offered some stability on the right side of the defense, but he was caught out of position on occasion, allowing Monaco to exploit the space behind him.
Eric Garcia (4/10): A game to forget for Garcia. He was shown a controversial red card for a foul that many argued was not a red card offense. Garcia's absence after the dismissal exposed Barcelona's backline further.
Jules Koundé (6/10): Koundé was a reliable presence at the heart of the defense, making crucial interceptions and tackles. He was unable to consistently control the Monaco attack, however.
Alejandro Balde (7/10): Balde continued to impress on the left side of the defense. He was a constant threat going forward, providing dangerous crosses and overlaps.
Gavi (6/10): Gavi was lively and energetic in the middle of the park, but he couldn't find his usual cutting edge going forward.
Oriol Romeu (5/10): Romeu struggled to control the midfield battle and was largely ineffective in shielding the defense.
Frenkie de Jong (7/10): de Jong showed glimpses of his potential, creating chances and dictating the tempo of the game. His performance was a bright spot amidst a disappointing team performance.
Raphinha (6/10): Raphinha was a constant threat on the right wing but lacked the clinical edge needed to break down the Monaco defense.
Ansu Fati (5/10): Fati lacked sharpness and struggled to make an impact in the final third. He was withdrawn at halftime.
Robert Lewandowski (7/10): Lewandowski continued to be a threat in the box, scoring Barcelona's only goal and creating several other chances.
Substitutes:
Pedri (6/10): Pedri injected some much-needed creativity into the Barcelona attack but couldn't find the final pass to unlock the Monaco defense.
Ferran Torres (5/10): Torres had limited opportunities to make an impact after coming on as a substitute.
Ilaix Moriba (5/10): Moriba struggled to impose himself on the game.
Abde (6/10): Abde showed glimpses of his potential with some dazzling dribbling runs but was unable to create any clear-cut chances.
Conclusion:
Barcelona's performance against Monaco highlighted the need for defensive reinforcements and a more potent attacking threat. The red card to Eric Garcia proved costly, exposing the fragility of the defense, which struggled to cope with Monaco's attacking prowess. While the pre-season tour may have ended on a disappointing note, Barcelona will be hoping to improve their performance before the start of the La Liga season.
