Six years later, AS Monaco enjoys its return to the Champions League against Barcelona!
A big match and a victory! With a man advantage and more enterprising throughout, the AS Monaco players recorded a prestigious victory against FC Barcelona (2-1), on the Club’s return to the Champions League. All this, in a full Stade Louis-II, and in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II and President Dmitry Rybolovlev, who congratulated captain Denis Zakaria for the team’s performance after the match.✍️
The context 📅
It waas with the confidence of a good start to the season in Ligue 1 (3 wins, 1 draw) and strong from a victory in preseason against the Blaugrana in the Joan Gamper Trophy (0-3), that the Rouge et Blanc started this Champions League campaign. Their opponents, Hansi Flick’s side had made their own great start to La Liga (5 wins, 17 goals scored), led by 17-year-old prodigy, Lamine Yamal.
The eleven 👥
To face this Barça reinvigorated by their strong form, Adi Hütter decided to trust in his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, with the trio Akliouche – Minamino – Ben Seghir leading the Monaco attack. Wilfried Singo was a starter on the right side of the defense, while Vanderson was exceptionally tasked with playing on the left flank.
The scenario 🎞
This gala match was played in a great atmosphere at the Stade Louis-II, which was sold out for the occasion. We would have to wait until the 7th minute to witness a first attempt from Eliesse Ben Seghir. Then the match took an unexpected turn, when Eric Garcia received a straight red card (10′). Lamine Camara’s free kick then hit the Barcelona wall (12′), before Breel Embolo was stopped by Ter Stegen (14′).
Magic Maghnes opens the scoring!
But the spark will ultimately come from Maghnes Akliouche, who, by cutting back into the center, perfectly finished with his left foot at the near post (1-0, 16′)! What an action from the Monegasque number 11, scorer of his tenth goal in la Diagonale . The joy was unfortunately short-lived, as after unsuccessful attempts by Camara (21′) and Embolo (27′), Lamine Yamal scored the in a similar fashion to the opening goal (1-1, 28′).
MAGHNES AKLIOUCHE OUVRE LE SCORE FACE AU FC BARCELONE, QUEL BUT ! 😱
Le contrôle, l'enchaînement, la frappe… 🥵#ASMFCB| #UCL pic.twitter.com/3GZTrZTXlL
— CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) September 19, 2024
Chances… but no breakthrough
Not defeated, the Rouge et Blanc set off again, but Singo’s goal was logically disallowed for offside (35′), while Takumi Minamino could only hit the side netting (38′). There was then a miss of a few centimetres by Mohammed Salisu on Camara’s free kick from close range (44′). Half-time therefore came with this score level, the moment chosen by Adi Hütter to bring on Aleksandr Golovin to start the second half (46′).
George in super sub mode!
After a few minutes of caution from both sides, it took perfect anticipation from Philipp Köhn to prevent Raphinha from scoring on the counter (52′). Then the Monaco stadium rose as one on Vanderson’s shot from 25 meters, but it was deflected for a corner by Ter Stegen (57′). There was a similar thrill on Taki’s powerful shot, deflected just above the bar (65′). The fans’ happiness was total then, when George Ilenikhena, found with a long ball, beat the Catalans’ ‘keeper (2-1, 71’) !
GEORGE ILENIKHENA REDONNE L'AVANTAGE À MONACO FACE AU BARÇA ! 🤯#ASMFCB | #UCL pic.twitter.com/7kNVRqPB4j
— CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) September 19, 2024
A prestigious win to start the Champions League
It was a first goal in official competition for the 18-year-old Nigerian striker for AS Monaco, who even came close to scoring twice shortly thereafter (80′). Then it was Folarin Balogun, who came on as a substitute, who saw his shot from close range pushed away by Ter Stegen (81′). Barça, physically limited, would only show themselves to be dangerous on a free kick from Raphinha (93′).
This would be the last chance, and AS Monaco finally won with character and experience on the first matchday of the Champions League (2-1), six years later and under the eyes of the legendary Michael Jordan, present in the stands of the Stade Louis-II. DAGHE MUNEGU !!! 🇲🇨
Key moments 🎥
7′: A first strike by Ben Seghir, into Ter Stegen’s gloves
10′: Red card for Eric Garcia
14′: Minamino passes to Embolo who is denied by the Catalan goalkeeper
16′: Akliouche cuts into the middle and finishes with his left foot perfectly (1-0)
21′: Vanderson passes to Camara who shoots hard from afar
27′: Singo passes to Embolo who is denied
28′: Yamal cuts back into the middle and finishes hard at the near post (1-1)
35′: Singo’s goal is disallowed for offside
38′: Minamino shoots into the side netting
44: Camara’s free kick is headed wide by Salisu
52′: Köhn makes a great save to deny Raphinha
57′: Vanderson’s curling shot deflected by Ter Stegen
65′: Minamino gets the ball from a corner and shoots just over
71′: On a long ball, Ilenikhena beats Ter Stegen (2-1)
80′: A low shot from Ilenikhena goes wide
81′: Balogun unleashes from a tight angle but Ter Stegen deflects
93′: A free kick is off target from Raphinha
📋 Match details:
Thursday September 19 – Stade Louis-II
Champions League- Matchday 1 : AS Monaco 2-1 FC Barcelone
Halftime: 1-1
Goals: Akliouche (16′), Ilenikhena (71′) for AS Monaco; Yamal (28′) for Barcelona
Bookings: Ben Seghir (29′), Camara (36′), Mawissa (92′) and Balogun (96′) for AS Monaco; Martinez (75′) and Balde (85′) for Barcelona
Red cards: Garcia (10′) for Barcelona
AS Monaco: Köhn – Singo, Kehrer, Salisu, Vanderson (Mawissa, 88′) – Camara (Golovin, 46′), Zakaria ©️ – Akliouche, Minamino (C.Henrique, 70′), Ben Seghir (Balogun, 69′) – Embolo (Ilenikhena, 59′)
Substitutes: Lienard, C.Henrique, Mawissa, Ouattara, Teze, Diatta, Golovin, Magassa, Matazo, Balogun, Ilenikhena
Manager: Adi Hütter
FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen – Koundé, Cubarsi (Dominguez, 79′), Martinez – Garcia, Casado, Balde (Fati, 88′) – Yamal (Torres, 79′), Pedri (Torre, 83′), Raphinha – Lewandowski (Martin, 80′)
Substitutes: Astralaga, Pena, Cuenca, Dominguez, Fort, Martin, Guillermo, Torre, Victor, Fati, Fernandez, Torres
Manager: Hansi Flick
