Barcelona vs Monaco: Barcelona’s Preseason Stumbles with a 3-0 Loss to AS Monaco

Barcelona vs Monaco: Barcelona’s fifth and final preseason game ended in disappointment with a 3-0 loss to AS Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium. In what was their weakest performance under Hansi Flick, Barça struggled to create meaningful chances and conceded poorly, failing to rise to the occasion in their last warm-up before La Liga’s kickoff against Valencia.

Barcelona vs Monaco

Missed Opportunities in the First Half

The match started with promise as Raphinha’s cross found Pau Víctor unmarked, but the young striker missed the target. This missed opportunity set the tone for a first half where Barça’s midfield orchestrated promising attacks, only for the final pass to falter, leaving the home team without clear opportunities.

Positives Amidst the Defeat

Despite the scoreline, Barça showcased a few positives: their pressing was effective, and young talents like Marc Bernal and Marc Casadó shined in midfield. Bernal’s passing linked up the play beautifully, while Casadó’s energy and movement kept the team on the attack.

Defensive Gambles and Disallowed Goals

Defensively, Barça’s high line and aggressive offside trap were a gamble that mostly paid off, though it flirted with danger. The closest Barça came to scoring was Raphinha’s disallowed goal, a reminder of the potential that went unrealized in the first half.

A Second-Half Collapse

The second half began disastrously with a comical error leading to Monaco’s opener, as Iñigo Martínez’s misplaced pass allowed Lamine Camara to score. Minutes later, the offside trap was breached, and Breel Embolo doubled Monaco’s lead with a cool finish past Marc-André ter Stegen.

Late Spark but No Comeback

Hansi Flick made several changes, introducing Lamine Yamal, whose creative spark almost led to a goal, but Pau Víctor’s effort went wide. Barça’s attack lacked the fluidity and urgency of the first half, becoming stagnant until Yamal’s introduction injected life into the final third. However, any hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Christian Mawissa’s strike secured Monaco’s victory.

Looking Ahead: Work Still Needed

The final whistle marked a night to forget for Barça, who never truly found their rhythm and conceded avoidable goals. While preseason overall remains encouraging, this game highlighted the significant work still needed under Hansi Flick to prepare for the challenges ahead.