Barcelona Player Ratings: Monaco Match, Garcia Dismissed
Barcelona's first leg clash against AS Monaco in the Europa League round of 16 was a tense affair, ultimately ending in a 2-3 victory for the Blaugrana. The match was marred by a red card for defender Jules Koundé, which left the team vulnerable, and a controversial penalty decision that saw Monaco pull one back.
Here is a breakdown of the Barcelona players' performances:
Goalkeepers
- Marc-André ter Stegen (7/10): Ter Stegen was a solid presence in goal, making several crucial saves to keep Barcelona in the game. He couldn't do much about the goals conceded, with Monaco capitalizing on defensive errors.
Defenders
- Jules Koundé (6/10): Koundé had a shaky start to the game, almost giving away a penalty in the early stages. He was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on a Monaco attacker, leaving Barcelona vulnerable.
- Ronald Araújo (7/10): Araújo put in another strong performance, showcasing his physicality and composure. He was a rock at the back, providing crucial clearances and interceptions.
- Andreas Christensen (7/10): Christensen formed a solid partnership with Araújo, keeping Monaco's attackers relatively quiet. He was composed on the ball and showed good reading of the game.
- Alejandro Balde (6/10): Balde was energetic on the left flank but struggled to create clear-cut chances. He was caught out defensively on a few occasions, which led to Monaco’s second goal.
Midfielders
- Sergio Busquets (7/10): Busquets controlled the tempo of the game and provided vital shielding for the defense. He was accurate in his passing and showed his experience in managing the midfield.
- Frenkie de Jong (7/10): De Jong was a force in midfield, driving forward with purpose and creating chances for his teammates. He was also strong in tackles and interceptions.
- Gavi (8/10): Gavi was the standout performer for Barcelona, showcasing his dynamism and creativity. He scored the opening goal with a well-taken finish and was a constant threat throughout the game. He was also involved in Barcelona’s third goal, leading to a well-placed pass to Raphinha.
- Pedri (7/10): Pedri was his usual creative self, linking up well with his teammates and finding key passes. He was particularly effective in the second half, helping Barcelona regain control of the game.
Forwards
- Raphinha (7/10): Raphinha was a constant threat on the right flank, providing dangerous crosses and showing his ability to beat defenders. He scored Barcelona’s third goal, finishing off a flowing move from Gavi.
- Robert Lewandowski (6/10): Lewandowski missed a few good chances to score, but his movement and hold-up play were impressive. He was involved in the build-up to Barcelona’s first goal.
Substitutes
- Ferran Torres (7/10): Torres replaced Balde in the second half and provided a much-needed attacking spark. He helped create chances and showed his ability to run at defenders.
- Ansu Fati (6/10): Fati came on in the closing stages and made a few promising runs.
- Franck Kessie (6/10): Kessie replaced De Jong in the later stages of the game and provided some extra physicality in midfield.
Overall, Barcelona's performance was far from convincing, with the red card for Koundé significantly impacting the game. Despite the result, several players, including Gavi, de Jong, and ter Stegen, stood out and helped the team secure the victory. The second leg promises to be a tense encounter, with Monaco looking to overturn the deficit at the Camp Nou.
This match was a reminder that while Barcelona has been dominant in La Liga, they are still a work in progress and need to improve their consistency, especially defensively. They will need to be more disciplined and composed in the second leg if they want to progress to the next round of the Europa League.
