FC Barcelona 0-3 AS Monaco: Gamper defeat

FC Barcelona’s record run of twelve victorious editions of the Joan Gamper Trophy was ended on Monday night by an AS Monaco side that scored three times in the second half.

Following all the excitement and optimism in the build-up, the festival atmosphere at the Estadi Olimpic was much more muted by the end of it, but the visitors took the chances that the Catalans did not, and were ultimately worthy winners of the historic trophy at the very first attempt. 

Missed chances

Hansi Flick had opted to start his first ever home game in charge of the side with an XI consisting of new captain Ter Stegen in goal, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, Iñigo Martinez and Alejandro Balde in defence, a midfield consisting of Marc Bernal, Marc Casadó and Pablo Torre, and a frontline of Raphinha, new signing Pau Víctor and Robert Lewandowski.

On a sweltering hot evening in the Catalan capital, the first half was a rather tepid affair, but all three forwards could have got on the scoresheet. Pau Victor skied a great chance in the very first minute, Lewandowski also came close, and Raphinha did find the net but was flagged up for offside.

The fact is that Monaco were clearly taking things very seriously indeed, frequently reminding us why they finished second in the French championship last season and enjoying plenty of possession but turning into little or nothing of it into clear-cut chances. But all that would change after the break.

Monaco flash ahead

The teams had only just re-assumed their positions when the Monegasque side took the lead in surreal circumstances. It looked like a simple pass out of defence from Bernal to Martínez, but Lamine Camara caught the pair by surprise by racing through to seize the ball and a simple goal.

And moments later, another African, Breel Embolo, was pipping ball past Ter Stegen to stun the home fans by making it two. It looked like the Cameroonian was marginally offside when he received the ball, but with no VAR in this game, the goal stood.

Ilkay Gündogan and Sergi Domínguez were the only changes at half-time, although the latter took a nasty knock and was only for a quarter of an hour.

Hector Fort, Ferran Torres, Gerard Martín and Lamine Yamal were next on, with the biggest cheer of the night reserved for the latter. It was at the Gamper last year that the teenager first started making a name for himself, and he was quick to have an impact on this one too, threading a lovely ball through to Pau Victor, but the striker failed to finish off the job.

Three down and all over

Iñaki Peña relieved Ter Stegen and sadly it wasn’t long before he was beaten too. Substitute Christian Mawissa scored it with his very first kick for the side he had only joined less than 48 hours earlier.

No visiting team had won the Gamper since Sampdoria in 2012, and it was Barça’s biggest defeat in the event since FC Cologne won 4-0 in 1981.

Defeat always hurts, and today failed to deliver the confidence boost that was needed ahead of the trip to Valencia next Saturday. That's when things get really serious, but all the same Monaco warrant hearty congratulations for being such worthy opponents, and also winners, at the 59th Gamper Trophy.