Barcelona vs Monaco: Garcia Red Card, Player Ratings
Barcelona kicked off their pre-season campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Monaco in a friendly match held at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The match was marked by a controversial red card for Barcelona's young midfielder, Lamine Yamal, and an impressive performance from the Ligue 1 side.
A Tale of Two Halves
The first half saw Barcelona dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Xavi Hernandez's team pressed high and showcased their trademark possession-based style, with Pedri and Gavi dictating the tempo in midfield. However, Monaco held their ground defensively and relied on counter-attacks to threaten the Barcelona goal.
The second half started with Barcelona's dominance continuing, but the game took a dramatic turn when Yamal was controversially sent off for a challenge on Axel Disasi. This red card sparked Monaco's comeback, and they managed to equalize through a well-taken goal by Breel Embolo.
Despite being a man down, Barcelona still created numerous opportunities, with Robert Lewandowski coming closest to breaking the deadlock. The match ended in a stalemate, with both sides content with a draw in this early pre-season test.
Player Ratings
Barcelona
- Ter Stegen (6/10): Made a couple of crucial saves and looked confident despite the late concession.
- Koundé (7/10): Strong performance defensively and comfortable in possession.
- Araujo (7/10): Solid as usual, but the red card disrupted the backline.
- Balde (6/10): Showcased his pace and skill, but struggled to impact the game in the second half.
- Pedri (7/10): Controlled the midfield with his usual poise and vision.
- Gavi (6/10): Energetic and combative, but his final passes lacked precision.
- De Jong (6/10): Played with a lot of confidence and contributed defensively.
- Lewandowski (7/10): Looked sharp and hungry, creating chances despite the lack of support.
- Dembélé (6/10): Caused problems for Monaco's defense with his dribbling and pace.
- Fati (6/10): Looked lively in the final third, but struggled to find the back of the net.
- Yamal (5/10): Showed glimpses of his potential, but his red card will be a major talking point.
Monaco
- Nübel (7/10): Made a crucial save in the first half to keep Barcelona at bay.
- Disasi (7/10): Led the backline with authority and was a constant threat in set-pieces.
- Badiashile (6/10): Solid performance, but struggled to cope with Barcelona's movement.
- Magassa (6/10): Impressed with his pace and physicality.
- Golovin (7/10): Controlled the midfield for Monaco and delivered dangerous passes.
- Fofana (6/10): Played with a lot of energy and provided crucial defensive cover.
- Ben Yedder (6/10): Led the line effectively but lacked the service to create clear-cut chances.
- Embolo (7/10): Clinical finish for the equalizer, showcasing his attacking instincts.
- Minamino (6/10): Lively on the wings, but his final ball let him down.
Takeaways from the Match
- Barcelona's attack needs fine-tuning: Despite creating a lot of chances, Barcelona struggled to find the back of the net. The lack of a clinical finisher could prove problematic in the upcoming season.
- Yamal's red card highlights his inexperience: The young winger's red card highlights his lack of experience and discipline. It will be interesting to see how Xavi manages him going forward.
- Monaco's counter-attacking threat: Monaco's ability to counter-attack effectively showed that they will be a dangerous opponent in Ligue 1 this season.
The game between Barcelona and Monaco served as a valuable pre-season test for both teams. While Barcelona showcased their usual possession dominance, they were exposed defensively by Monaco's fast and direct counter-attacks. The match highlighted areas where both sides need to improve ahead of the new season.
