Good evening everybody and welcome to another MARCA in English live blog, this time taking you through the Champions League clash between Monaco and Barcelona from the Stade Louis II.
Barcelona enters the Champions League in fine form under new manager Hansi Flick, looking to extend their impressive start to the 2024/25 season. Flick’s Barcelona side has been dominant in LaLiga, racking up 17 goals in just five games, with Robert Lewandowski leading the scoring charge.
Monaco, meanwhile, hasalso had a solid start to the Ligue 1 season, showcasing a strong defense. However, the encounter against Barcelona will test how far they’ve come under manager Adi Hutter. Monaco‘s defense has been reliable, but they haven’t faced an attack as potent as Barcelona’s this season.
Monaco‘s home form in the Champions League raises concerns. They’ve lost seven consecutive home games in the competition, a trend they need to reverse if they hope to progress. Despite this, Monaco can draw confidence from its overall record against Spanish teams, winning seven of its last nine encounters.
For Barcelona, this season’s Champions League campaign is about redemption. After disappointing group stage exits in 2021 and 2022, Barcelona is hungry to return to the competition’s elite ranks.
Second Half ends, Monaco 2, Barcelona 1.
Folarin Balogun (Monaco) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Folarin Balogun (Monaco).
Marc Casadó (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Caio Henrique (Monaco) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Jules Koundé (Barcelona).
Attempt missed. Raphinha (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Christian Mawissa (Monaco) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Christian Mawissa (Monaco).
Raphinha (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Ferran Torres.
Attempt blocked. Folarin Balogun (Monaco) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Gerard Martín (Barcelona).
Substitution, Monaco. Christian Mawissa replaces Vanderson.
Substitution, Barcelona. Ansu Fati replaces Alejandro Balde.
VAR Decision: No Penalty Monaco.
Marc Casadó (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card.
Alejandro Balde (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card.
Penalty Monaco. Folarin Balogun draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by Iñigo Martínez (Barcelona) after a foul in the penalty area.
Substitution, Barcelona. Pablo Torre replaces Pedri.
Foul by George Ilenikhena (Monaco).
Iñigo Martínez (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Marc-André ter Stegen.
Attempt saved. Folarin Balogun (Monaco) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
Substitution, Barcelona. Sergi Domínguez replaces Robert Lewandowski.
Substitution, Barcelona. Gerard Martín replaces Lamine Yamal.
Substitution, Barcelona. Ferran Torres replaces Pau Cubarsí.
Offside, Monaco. Folarin Balogun is caught offside.
George Ilenikhena (Monaco) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Marc Casadó (Barcelona).
Iñigo Martínez (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Wilfried Singo (Monaco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mohammed Salisu (Monaco).
Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Vanderson (Monaco).
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Goal! Monaco 2, Barcelona 1. George Ilenikhena (Monaco) left footed shot from the centre of the box following a fast break.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution, Monaco. Caio Henrique replaces Takumi Minamino.
Substitution, Monaco. Folarin Balogun replaces Eliesse Ben Seghir.
Delay in match because of an injury Vanderson (Monaco).
Foul by Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco).
Alejandro Balde (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Offside, Monaco. George Ilenikhena is caught offside.
Offside, Monaco. Wilfried Singo is caught offside.
Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Iñigo Martínez.
Attempt blocked. Takumi Minamino (Monaco) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Alejandro Balde.
Aleksandr Golovin (Monaco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Marc Casadó (Barcelona).
Attempt missed. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Raphinha with a cross.
Foul by George Ilenikhena (Monaco).
Raphinha (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Marc-André ter Stegen.
Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Jules Koundé.
Substitution, Monaco. George Ilenikhena replaces Breel Embolo.
Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Marc-André ter Stegen.
Attempt saved. Vanderson (Monaco) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Aleksandr Golovin.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Philipp Köhn (Monaco).
Philipp Köhn (Monaco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Raphinha (Barcelona).
Foul by Thilo Kehrer (Monaco).
Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).
Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Pau Cubarsí.
Hand ball by Denis Zakaria (Monaco).
Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Alejandro Balde.
Attempt blocked. Wilfried Singo (Monaco) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Substitution, Monaco. Aleksandr Golovin replaces Lamine Camara.
Second Half begins Monaco 1, Barcelona 1.
First Half ends, Monaco 1, Barcelona 1.
Offside, Barcelona. Raphinha is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Mohammed Salisu (Monaco) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Lamine Camara with a cross.
Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Pau Cubarsí.
Attempt blocked. Takumi Minamino (Monaco) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Pedri (Barcelona).
Attempt missed. Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Takumi Minamino.
Vanderson (Monaco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).
Foul by Vanderson (Monaco).
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Takumi Minamino (Monaco) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Denis Zakaria.
Lamine Camara (Monaco) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Lamine Camara (Monaco).
Raphinha (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Monaco. Wilfried Singo is caught offside.
Breel Embolo (Monaco) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Marc Casadó (Barcelona).
Offside, Monaco. Takumi Minamino is caught offside.
Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Pau Cubarsí.
Offside, Monaco. Breel Embolo is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Alejandro Balde (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Marc Casadó (Barcelona).
Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco).
Marc Casadó (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! Monaco 1, Barcelona 1. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Marc Casadó.
Attempt saved. Breel Embolo (Monaco) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (Barcelona).
Attempt missed. Lamine Camara (Monaco) right footed shot from outside the box.
Offside, Monaco. Breel Embolo is caught offside.
Goal! Monaco 1, Barcelona 0. Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Foul by Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona).
Breel Embolo (Monaco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Breel Embolo (Monaco) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Lamine Camara (Monaco) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Eric García (Barcelona) is shown the red card.
Foul by Eric García (Barcelona).
Takumi Minamino (Monaco) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Pedri (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco).
Attempt saved. Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
Jules Koundé (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco).
Foul by Marc Casadó (Barcelona).
Lamine Camara (Monaco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona).
Denis Zakaria (Monaco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Barcelona. Raphinha is caught offside.
Eric García (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Breel Embolo (Monaco).
First Half begins.
Eric Garcia, who will start in midfield, is the only new addition to Barcelona’s starting XI. Pedri will take on Olmo’s role.
Monaco XI: Kohn; Vanderson, Salisu, Kehrer, Singo; Denis Zakaria, Camara; Akliouche, Minamino, Ben Seghir; Embolo.
Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Balde; Casado, Eric Garcia; Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
The only two previous meetings between Monaco and Barcelona were in the group stage of the 1993-94 Champions League. Barcelona won both matches: 2-0 at home and 1-0 away.
Monaco vs Barcelona – Possible lineups
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha have been dynamic on the wings, while Dani Olmo orchestrates play in the middle. As they prepare to face Monaco, Barcelona will aim to carry this momentum into European competition and secure a strong start to their Champions League campaign.
Monaco possible XI: Kohn; Vanderson, Kehrer, Mawissa Elebi, Caio Henrique; Camara, Zakaria; Akliouche, Minamino, Ben Seghir; Embolo
Barcelona possible XI: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Balde; Eric Garcia, Pedri, Casado; Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Where to watch Monaco vs Barcelona?
For fans in the United Kingdom, Monaco vs Barcelona can be seen on TNT Sports (discovery+). Fans in Ireland can tune in via RTE, Virgin and Livescore.
US-based fans will be able to see Monaco vs Barcelona on CBS and TUDN.
What time does Monaco vs Barcelona start?
Monaco vs Barcelona is a 21:00 CET kick-off, which is local time in Spain. That means fans in the UK and Ireland can watch the game at 20:00 GMT.
Fans in the USA can tune in to watch Monaco vs Barcelona at 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT.
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Match ends, Monaco 2, Barcelona 1.