Monaco 2-1 Barcelona (19 September 2024) Match Analysis

Barcelona made a disappointing start to their Champions League season, losing 2-1 to AS Monaco on Thursday after FC Barcelona suffered an early setback with the sending off of defender Eric Garcia.

Garcia pulled back Takumi Minamino when the Japanese striker intercepted a panicked pass from Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen.

The result ended a perfect start to the season for Barca, who had won their first five La Liga games under new coach Hansi Flick, but Monaco took the lead in their 16th game through midfielder Maghnes Akliouche.

Akliouche, who represented France at the Olympic Games in Paris, scored from the right side of the penalty area in front of national coach Didier Deschamps.

Deschamps was not the only well-known face in the crowd at the Stade Louis II. Basketball legend Michael Jordan was also there.

Jordan watched as teenage superstar Lamine Yamal equalised for Barca in the 28th minute with a beautiful left-foot shot from the edge of the box.

It was his fourth goal of the season, but the first in the Spanish European champion's career in the Champions League.

According to UEFA, Yamal became the second-youngest goalscorer in Champions League history at 17 years and 68 days old – just 28 days older than his teammate Ansu Fati when he scored against Inter Milan in December 2019.

In July, Yamal became the youngest player ever to score at a European Championship when he scored a stunning goal in Spain's semi-final victory over France.

Fati has now recovered from a foot injury and is now in Flick’s squad.

The 21-year-old striker, who returned from a loan to English Premier League club Brighton, had not played for Barca since 2023.

This story uses information from Reuters and The Associated Press.