France, Sept 23 (Alliance News): The first week of the revamped Champions League concluded on Thursday, with Barcelona and Arsenal both failing to secure victories.
Barcelona faced a disappointing loss against AS Monaco, while Arsenal needed a goalkeeper’s heroics to salvage a point.
Monaco Shines Against 10-Man Barcelona
Barcelona’s promising start in La Liga hit a snag as they were overwhelmed by AS Monaco. An early red card for Eric García shifted the match dynamics, allowing Monaco to capitalize on the advantage.
Despite a brief equalizer from 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, Monaco’s George Ilenikhena secured the win with a goal in the 71st minute, becoming the youngest player to score for the club in Champions League history.
Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s coach, acknowledged the challenges posed by the red card, stating, “They deserved to win. We need to lift our heads and focus on our next game against Villarreal.”
