Ilenikhena seals memorable UCL win for Monaco
Monaco made a memorable return to the Champions League, beating 10-man Barcelona 2-1 on Friday.
Barcelona made a dreadful start at the Stade Louis II Stadium, with Eric Garcia shown a straight red card just 10 minutes in for a foul on Takumi Minamino, who was in on goal after a misplaced pass from Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The host took advantage six minutes later when Maghnes Akliouche struck a low shot into the net, giving Ter Stegen no chance.
However, Barcelona went into half-time on level terms after Lamine Yamal cut inside to drill a low shot into the bottom-left corner in the 28th minute.
Monaco kept pushing in the second half though, and got its reward in the 71st minute. Substitute George Ilenikhena fired past Ter Stegen to secure victory in their first Champions League appearance in five years.
It almost got better for Monaco, only for its late penalty to be overturned by VAR, but it had already done enough to inflict a first defeat on Hansi Flick as Barca manager.
