Barcelona were beaten 2-1 by Monaco in their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League opener, thanks to Nigerian teenager George Ilenikhena’s second-half winner.
The Catalans were reduced to 10 men after just 10 minutes, with Eric Garcia receiving a straight red card for a professional foul on former Liverpool striker Takumi Minamino.
Monaco took the lead through a fine finish from Maghnes Akliouche, but Barca’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal scored a superb equaliser as Hansi Flick’s side dug deep despite being one man down.
However, with around 20 minutes remaining in the match, substitute Ilenikhena marked his first appearance for Monaco in the competition with a powerful finish to secure maximum points in their first league stage match.
In doing so, he became the youngest Champions League goalscorer for the club, breaking the previous record set by Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe.
18 – George Ilenikhena (18 years and 34 days) is the youngest @ChampionsLeague all time top scorer @AS_Monacobeating the previous record set by Kylian Mbappé in 2017 (18 years and 63 days). Prince. pic.twitter.com/ORhRn5a13n
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) September 19, 2024
It’s not the first time the 18-year-old has scored the winning goal in the Champions League against Barca. Last season, he scored the second of his side’s two goals in added time to seal a 3-2 victory.
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Who is George Ilenikhena?
Ilenikhena only signed for Monaco in the recent transfer window, from Belgian club Royal Antwerp.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, in August 2006, he moved with his family at the age of three to Antony, in the suburbs of Paris.
A promising amateur footballer, he signed for Amiens in 2021 and spent two years there before joining Antwerp. His first Champions League goal for the club came in that dramatic 3-2 defeat to Barça in December 2023.
Why was Eric Garcia sent off against Monaco?
Garcia was given a straight red card for a professional foul on Minamino after just 10 minutes of play.
12 – #Barcelona ?? have lost 12 of their last 26 games in the #ChampionsLeague (46.2%), one more than in their previous 79 games in the competition (13.9%). Thorn. pic.twitter.com/RLAwLj0xGF
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 19, 2024
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen misplayed his pass into central defence and was robbed by Japanese striker Minamino. As he tried to win the ball back on the edge of the box, Garcia fouled his opponent and was sent off for preventing an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
