Barcelona Falls 2-1 to Monaco in Opener

Barcelona faced a 2-1 defeat against Monaco in their Champions League opener, marred by an early red card for defender Eric Garcia just 11 minutes into the match. Garcia was sent off for pulling down Takumi Minamino, leading to a goal from Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche in the 17th minute. Although Barcelona's Lamine Yamal equalized with a remarkable goal, George Ilenikhena secured the win for Monaco in the 71st minute. This loss highlights Barcelona's ongoing struggles in European competitions, especially away from home, as they have not won the Champions League since 2015. The match also featured the presence of basketball legend Michael Jordan, who attended the game amid a strong performance by the Ligue 1 side. With this defeat, Barcelona's perfect start to the season under coach Hansi Flick has come to an unexpected halt.