MONACO: Barcelona made a disappointing start to their Champions League campaign by losing 2-1 to Monaco after suffering an early blow with defender Eric Garcia’s expulsion.

Barcelona had a dreadful start at the Stade Louis II stadium when Garcia was shown a straight red card 11 minutes in for a foul on Monaco’s Takumi Minamino, who was clear in front of goal after a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The hosts grabbed the lead five minutes later when Maghnes Akliouche struck a low shot into the net, before Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal equalised in the 28th minute by finishing from the edge of the penalty area.

Monaco kept pushing and got their reward in the 71st minute when substitute George Ilenikhena fired past Ter Stegen to secure victory in their first main stage appearance in five years in Europe’s elite club competition.

Defiant Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said: “I’m very proud of this team and I’m very optimistic with them. We have to accept the loss but we have seven matches to go and I’m sure we’ll come back.”

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