The shortcomings of a leading member of the first-team ranks at Barcelona when in possession on Thursday night cost teammate Eric García dear.
Barcelona, of course, are currently locked in action on the continent.
In the club’s season opener in the Champions League, the Blaugrana have made the trip to the Stade Louis II, for a meeting with AS Monaco.
Safe to say, however, that the club’s stellar opening to the campaign on the domestic front has since not converted to Europe in any way, shape or form.
During the first-half in Monaco, the visitors find themselves both a man and a goal down.
The former was forthcoming first, when, with just ten minutes on the clock, Eric García was given his marching orders for a last-man challenge.
The Spaniard, however, was only partly to blame.
In fact, the bulk of the blame has since been placed on the shoulders of teammate Marc-André ter Stegen.
With the ball in his own penalty area, Ter Stegen, not for the first time this season, was responsible for an awful pass into midfield, leaving Eric stretching to reach the ball, and on the back foot.
As much highlighted once more the German international’s limitations when it comes to playing out from the back, both from a technical and decision-making perspective.
And things have since only gone from bad to worse for Barcelona, Monaco having taken firm advantage of their extra man to open the evening’s scoring through Maghnes Akliouche.
Conor Laird | GSFN
