FC Barcelona suffered a shocking 3-0 defeat against AS Monaco in the Trofeo Joan Gamper on August 12, 2024, marking a disappointing debut for new coach Hansi Flick. The prestigious pre-season friendly, held at the Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys, exposed significant weaknesses in Barcelona’s play and broke their 11-year winning streak in the tournament.Despite holding Monaco to a 0-0 score in the first half, Barcelona’s defense crumbled in the second half, conceding three goals. Lamine Camara opened the scoring in the 50th minute, followed by Breel Embolo seven minutes later, and Christian Mawissa sealed the victory with a goal in the 86th minute. Barcelona’s attack, led by Robert Lewandowski, failed to find the back of the net, and even the introduction of young talent Lamine Yamal in the 66th minute couldn’t spark a comeback.The defeat raised concerns about Barcelona’s readiness for the upcoming La Liga season, set to begin on Saturday against Valencia. Coach Hansi Flick acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, ‘Today, we saw what works and what doesn’t. We did not exert the pressure we usually do’. Barcelona’s goalkeeper and new captain, Marc-André ter Stegen, called the loss a ‘warning,’ emphasizing the need for improvement.This loss marks Barcelona’s first defeat in the Trofeo Joan Gamper since 2012 when they lost 1-0 to Sampdoria. The performance drew criticism from fans, with some even booing the team during the match. As Barcelona prepares for their La Liga opener, Flick and his team face the challenge of addressing these issues and regaining confidence in a short time.
Key points
- FC Barcelona suffered a 3-0 defeat against AS Monaco in the Trofeo Joan Gamper, their first loss in the tournament since 2012.
- The loss exposed weaknesses in Barcelona’s play under new coach Hansi Flick, raising concerns ahead of the La Liga season.
- Barcelona’s defense crumbled in the second half, conceding three goals, while their attack failed to score.
- The defeat has drawn criticism from fans and acknowledgment from players and coach about the need for improvement.
