AS Monaco made a bold return to the Champions League with a thrilling 2-1 win over a depleted Barcelona, who were reduced to 10 men early in the game. The victory, witnessed by Prince Albert II, President Dmitry Rybolovlev, and basketball legend Michael Jordan, took place in front of a packed crowd at Stade Louis II.
Match Overview
Facing a strong Barcelona side under coach Hansi Flick, Monaco’s head coach Adi Hütter fielded a well-balanced lineup. His attacking quartet—Maghnes Akliouche, Takumi Minamino, Eliesse Ben Seghir, and Breel Embolo—delivered a formidable performance.
The game took a dramatic turn in the 10th minute when Barcelona’s Eric Garcia was sent off for a foul on Minamino. Monaco quickly capitalized on their numerical advantage, with Akliouche finding the net to put the home team ahead.
Barcelona, despite being down a player, fought back and equalized with a brilliant strike from Lamine Yamal just before the 30-minute mark. The rest of the first half was action-packed, with both teams fiercely contesting every ball.
In the second half, Barcelona sat deeper, aiming to remain compact defensively. However, Monaco’s persistence paid off when George Ilenikhena scored his debut goal for the club, sealing a hard-fought victory for Les Rouge et Blanc.
Coach’s Reflection
A beaming Adi Hütter expressed his pride in his team after the match: “We’re thrilled with this win, especially against a club as prestigious as Barcelona. The red card helped, but even before that, we were performing well. The team showed incredible heart and deserved this result.”
Monaco's dominance was clear across various metrics: 18 shots to Barcelona’s 4, 8 shots on target versus just 1, and a significant lead in expected goals (1.32 to 0.41). These numbers highlight ASM’s superiority on the night.
With this victory behind them, Monaco now shifts focus to their upcoming Ligue 1 clash against Le Havre, eager to maintain their winning form. Monaco’s Youth League team also celebrated a dramatic 4-3 win over Barcelona earlier in the day, completing a double victory for the club against the Catalan giants.