Monaco 2-1 Barcelona: Ter Stegen's mistake condemns Barça in Champions League opener

Hansi Flick's FC Barcelona made their Champions League debut in 2024-2025 on a difficult night. The Catalan squad, which arrived at the match against AS Monaco with a full record of victories in LaLiga EA Sports, found a 'tough nut to crack' at the Luis II Stadium, and conditioned by the early expulsion of Eric García, the Catalans broke their winning streak with a tough defeat in France (2-1).

Ter Stegen conditioned and Lamine gave 'air'

The night looked 'black' for an imprecise Barça team, which was left with one less player when both teams were barely settling on the pitch. A serious error by Ter Stegen ended with the ball at the feet of Minamino, who was subsequently brought down by Eric García, who received the red card in his debut as a starter. The Monegasques took advantage of their superiority and grew in the match, opening the scoring just 6 minutes after the incident courtesy of Akliouche after a great individual play.

In an exercise of resistance that had not been seen before this season, the Catalans suffered and stayed in the game thanks to Marc-André and the errors of the home team, who wasted a couple of clear chances in front of goal. However, Barça has its new saviour in Lamine Yamal. The Barça jewel invented a great play after a pass from Marc Casadó and rescued his team with the equalising goal.

A very special goal for the Mataró star, who was celebrating his first goal in the Champions League. The blows between both sides went back and forth, and both Alejandro Balde for the Catalans and Camara for the French could have scored the goal that gave their teams the advantage. Despite this, neither side was able to fully impose themselves and everything was left to be decided in the second half.

The numerical inferiority punished Barça

After returning from the changing rooms, the tone of the first 45 minutes continued. The match was at a dizzying pace and both teams tried to hurt each other with long balls. However, as the minutes passed, fatigue began to dominate the azulgranas and the home team, with one more on the field, knew how to punish them at the feet of Ilenikhena, author of the winning goal. When the match was 'dying', the VAR 'saved' Flick's team from a non-existent penalty, but they could not equalize the score and suffered their first defeat of the season.

With this result, the azulgrana entity puts an end to its streak of consecutive victories and begins with an undesirable result its adventure in the new format of the Champions League. Next Wednesday, October 1, they will have the opportunity to reverse history in Montjuïc against Young Boys.

Match details: Monaco 2-1 FC Barcelona

• Mónaco: Köhn; Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Singo; Camara (Golovin, min. 46), Zakaria; Ben Seghir (Balogun, min. 70), Minamino (Henrique, min. 70), Akliouche y Embolo (Ilenikhena, min. 59).
• FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Cubarsí (Ferran Torres, min. 79), Iñigo, Balde (Domínguez, min. 88); Eric García, Casadó, Pedri (Domínguez, min. 83); Raphinha, Lewandowski (Domínguez, min. 80), Lamine Yamal (Martín, min. 80).
• Referee: Allard Lindhout.
• Incidents: Match corresponding to Matchday 1 of the 2024-25 Champions League
• Goals: 1-0, Akliouche (min. 16); 1-1, Lamine Yamal (min. 28); 2-1, Ilenikhena (min. 71)