.jpg)
2 hours ago
2 ARTICLE AD
With 11 against 10 for almost the entire match, AS Monaco managed to beat Barça in the opening match of the Champions League, Thursday evening at Louis-II.
AS Monaco had – by far – the most difficult match of the French clubs for the first day of the Champions League (exceptionally spread over three days). On Thursday, the Louis-II residents beat FC Barcelona, the very good leader of La Liga at the start of the season, on the field by a score of 2-1. It must be said that the Red and Whites played almost the entire match with a numerical advantage!
After Eric Garcia was sent off for a foul on Takumi Minamino near the Blaugrana area (11th), Maghnes Akliouche opened the scoring with a great left-footed strike (16th). With 10 against 11, FCB did what it could, watched in particular by Michael Jordan. The phenomenon Lamine Yamal equalized for the visitors with a terrible strike for Philipp Köhn (28th). The 17-year-old, exceptional at Euro 2024, scored his very first goal in the Champions League!
Monaco thanks to its 18-year-old star
The Monegasques pushed in the second half, Adi Hütter opted for offensive changes (with the entry of Aleksandr Golovin in midfield), and it was finally George Ilenikhena who gave his team the advantage, with a powerful strike that deceived Marc-André ter Stegen (71st). A memorable entry into play for the 18-year-old Franco-Nigerian striker, who also became the youngest scorer in the history of ASM in C1 ahead of a certain Kylian Mbappé.
“We can go very far”confided the hero of the day after the match, on Canal+ Foot. Monaco did well to start its European campaign with a success since its calendar is particularly difficult. The club from the Principality will challenge Dinamo Zagreb and Red Star Belgrade in the coming weeks, before clashes against Bologna (in Italy), Benfica (at Louis-II), Arsenal (at the Emirates), Aston Villa (at home) and Inter (in Milan). Just that!
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
