Hansi Flick’s men fall to the Principality in the Joan Gamper Trophy (0-3)
MADRID, 12 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona fell this Monday in the Joan Gamper Trophy against AS Monaco (0-3), a match in which Hansi Flick’s men suffered from a lack of intensity just five days before the start of LaLiga EA Sports against Valencia at Mestalla, which will force us to take note this week.
Since 2012, when they lost to Sampdoria, Barça have not let their tournament slip away. The worrying gaps in play, after an exciting North American tour, contrasted with the good performances of men like Pau Víctor, Marc Casadó and Lamine Yamal, who came on in the second half and woke up the Catalan team.
After the traditional speeches by the coach and players and after the tribute to the champions of the European Championship and the Olympic Games, the match got underway with Ter Stegen, Koundé, Iñigo Martínez, Christensen, Balde, Marc Casadó, Marc Bernal, Pablo Torre, Raphinha, Lewandowski and Pau Víctor making up Hansi Flick’s first starting eleven.
The last of them, Pau Víctor, the great sensation of the pre-season, gave a warning in the first minute with a shot that went high, and shortly after Pablo Torre frustrated a chance for the team from the Principality by cutting off a counterattack. The Blaugrana team tried, but could not find the way to goal.
After the first quarter of an hour, Robert Lewandowski tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the box that was saved by the Monaco goalkeeper, who responded with a cross from Vanderson that missed the target. Adi Hütter’s men were very comfortable with the ball, and Denis Zakaria also tried to open the scoring, but his shot in the 24th minute went over the crossbar.
After the hydration break on the half-hour mark, Raphinha found the back of the net after a long ball, but referee Víctor García Verdura ruled the goal out for offside. It was the last great chance before the break, after which Gündogan and Sergi Domínguez came on for Christensen and Pablo Torre.
Five minutes after the restart, Monaco took the lead after a mistake in the Barcelona play-off, when Iñigo Martínez passed to Marc Bernal, who relaxed when Mohamed Camara arrived, stealing the ball and sending it into the back of the net (min. 50). Just seven minutes later, the second-placed team in Ligue 2 increased their lead through Breel Embolo, who knew how to take advantage of a good through ball from Takumi Minamino.
Pau Víctor put pressure on with a shot that was parried by the opposition defence, before Flick looked to react by bringing on the expected Lamine Yamal – who gave a great pass to the Sant Cugat del Vallès player as soon as he came on, with the ball just grazing the post -, Ferran Torres, Héctor Fort and Gerard Martín for Lewandowski, Gündogan, Balde and Koundé.
Despite the fact that the team grew with Yamal, Christian Mawissa was in charge of thwarting any chances for the Blaugrana in the 86th minute, controlling the ball and scoring the third of the night. On Saturday, Flick’s team will make their debut in LaLiga EA Sports against Valencia at Mestalla, a match in which they will have to put the doubts of this Monday behind them.