Monaco 2-1 Barcelona: Match Summary & Score
Monaco pulled off a stunning upset against Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash, winning 2-1 at the Stade Louis II.
The first half saw a cagey affair with both teams struggling to gain a foothold in the game. However, it was Monaco who took the lead in the 7th minute, with Aleksandr Golovin finishing a well-worked move from close range.
Barcelona dominated possession and pressed for an equalizer, but Monaco's defense stood firm. The visitors finally found their breakthrough in the 78th minute when Pedri cleverly flicked the ball past the Monaco goalkeeper. It seemed like Barcelona would go on to win the game, but in the 93rd minute, the momentum shifted again.
Monaco's persistence paid off when Wissam Ben Yedder, who had come on as a substitute, struck the winner with a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty box. This result puts Monaco in a commanding position heading into the second leg at Camp Nou.
Key Moments:
- 7th minute: Golovin scores the opening goal after a well-worked move by Monaco.
- 78th minute: Pedri equalizes for Barcelona with a deft touch.
- 93rd minute: Ben Yedder scores the winner for Monaco with a powerful strike.
Player of the Match:
Wissam Ben Yedder was instrumental in Monaco's victory. He came on as a substitute and made an immediate impact, scoring the winning goal and providing a constant threat to Barcelona's defense.
Takeaways:
- Monaco's resilience and ability to counter-attack effectively proved decisive.
- Barcelona struggled to break down Monaco's organized defense.
- Ben Yedder's performance underlined his quality as a striker.
What's next?
Monaco will travel to Camp Nou for the second leg on March 15th. Barcelona will need to produce a much better performance to overturn the deficit and avoid a Champions League exit.
This was a truly remarkable result for Monaco, who proved they can compete with the best in Europe. The second leg is sure to be a thrilling encounter, and the stakes couldn't be higher.
