2024-09-20 06:35:34
For Marc-André ter Stegen, it was a difficult start to the new Champions League season. He messed up and lost the first game with Barcelona.
FC Barcelona and coach Hansi Flick had a bad start to the new Champions League season. The Spanish top club lost 2-1 to AS Monaco. The whole disaster began after just ten minutes and a mistake by Germany’s number one, Marc-André ter Stegen.
After a passing error by ter Stegen, defender Eric Garcia was shown the red card for pulling the emergency brake on Takumi Minamino. With ten men, Barcelona could not find control of the game – and ultimately left the field as losers.
“We didn’t get along well in this situation. I feel sorry for Eric because in the end he had to suffer and we played almost 80 minutes with one player less,” said ter Stegen about his mistake: “Something happened that shouldn’t have happened.”
Maghnes Akliouche gave Monaco the lead when they were in the majority (16th minute), but young star Yamal equalized with a strong individual effort (28th minute). Ter Stegen again did not look good when substitute George Ilenikhena scored the decisive goal (71st minute). It was the first defeat in six competitive matches for Flick and Barça.
“We have to accept it, it happens,” said Flick. “But I believe we are strong enough to play a good Champions League. We have a lot of games, we will win a lot of games and in the end we will achieve our goals.”
The Spanish media commented critically on the game. “Barça committed suicide in Monaco,” wrote “Marca” in drastic terms. “Playing 80 minutes with fewer players in the Champions League is fatal, and this time was no exception.” The portal “Sport” wrote of “Barça’s cardinal sin in Monaco.”