AS Monaco, featuring the Swiss trio Breel Embolo, Denis Zakaria and Philipp Köhn, kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 2:1 win against FC Barcelona. The Monegasques benefited from an early sending off for Barça defender Eric Garcia.
Outnumbered, FC Barcelona suffered their first competitive defeat under coach Hansi Flick. The Catalans deservedly lost 2:1 at AS Monaco in the Champions League opener, partly because German international goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen made a mistake, forcing the visitors to play almost 80 minutes with one man less.
A far too risky pass from the Barça goalkeeper ended up with Monaco's Takumi Minamino. Defender Eric Garcia could only stop the Japanese player with a foul and was shown the red card in the eleventh minute. Just five minutes later, Magne's Akliouche made it 1:0 (16') for Monaco.
Barcelona, who will play FC Bayern Munich (October 23) and Borussia Dortmund (December 11) in the rest of the Champions League, only started to attack after more than 25 minutes. European champion Lamine Yamal gave Swiss Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn no chance with a shot (28') and equalized.
18-year-old joker decides the game
After the break, 18-year-old George Ilenikhena decided the game: the Frenchman, who came on for Breel Embolo on the hour mark, scored in front of basketball icon Michael Jordan and caused a huge cheer for former YB coach Adi Hütter's team.
After a convincing start in Spain with five wins in five games, it was Flick's first defeat for the five-time Champions League winners.
Video ticker
AS Monaco
FC Barcelona
- Maghnes Akliouche - 1:0 (16.)
- George Ilenikhena - 2:1 (71.)
- (28.) 1:1 - Lamine Yamal
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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71.
Ilenikhena puts Monaco back in the lead
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28.
Yamal equalizes for Barça
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16.
Akliouche gives Monaco the lead
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14.
Embolo misses mega chance
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10.
Garcia sent off after an emergency brake
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What Zakaria and Hütter say ahead of the Barça game
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Hansi Flick: "We will try everything"
Hansi Flick has been on the Barcelona touchline as coach since the summer of 2024. Ahead of the Champions League opener, the German tactician talks about his ambitions with the Catalans.
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The highlights from Wednesday
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All highlights from Tuesday
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90.+7.End of 2nd half
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90.+6.Yellow card AS Monaco
Folarin Balogun
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90.+2.Yellow card AS Monaco
Denis Zakaria
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88.Substitution in AS Monaco
Christian Mawissa Elebi
Defender
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88.Substitution out AS Monaco
Vanderson
Defender
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88.Substitution in FC Barcelona
Ansu Fati
Striker
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88.Substitution out FC Barcelona
Alejandro Balde
Defender
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85.Yellow card FC Barcelona
Marc Casadó
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85.Yellow card FC Barcelona
Alejandro Balde
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83.Substitution in FC Barcelona
Pablo Torre
Midfielder
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83.Substitution out FC Barcelona
Pedri
Midfielder
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80.Substitution in FC Barcelona
Sergi Domínguez
Defender
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80.Substitution out FC Barcelona
Robert Lewandowski
Striker
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79.Substitution in FC Barcelona
Gerard Martin
Defender
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79.Substitution out FC Barcelona
Lamine Yamal
Midfielder
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79.Substitution in FC Barcelona
Ferran Torres
Striker
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79.Substitution out FC Barcelona
Pau Cubarsí
Defender
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75.Yellow card FC Barcelona
Iñigo Martínez
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71.Goal for AS Monaco, 2:1 through George Ilenikhena (Vanderson)
George Ilenikhena
Striker
Assist: Vanderson
Defender
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70.Substitution in AS Monaco
Caio Henrique
Midfielder
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70.Substitution out AS Monaco
Takumi Minamino
Midfielder
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69.Substitution in AS Monaco
Folarin Balogun
Striker
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69.Substitution out AS Monaco
Eliesse Ben Seghir
Midfielder
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59.Substitution in AS Monaco
George Ilenikhena
Striker
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59.Substitution out AS Monaco
Breel Embolo
Striker
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46.Substitution in AS Monaco
Aleksandr Golovin
Midfielder
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46.Substitution out AS Monaco
Lamine Camara
Midfielder
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+3.End of 1st half
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36.Yellow card AS Monaco
Lamine Camara
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29.Yellow card AS Monaco
Eliesse Ben Seghir
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28.Goal for FC Barcelona, 1:1 through Lamine Yamal (Marc Casadó)
Lamine Yamal
Midfielder
Assist: Marc Casadó
Midfielder
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16.Goal for AS Monaco, 1:0 through Maghnes Akliouche (Vanderson)
Maghnes Akliouche
Midfielder
Assist: Vanderson
Defender
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10.Red card FC Barcelona (direct)
Eric García
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1.Start of the match
