Japanese Media Praises Takumi Minamino: Precise Action Reduced Barcelona by One Man, Played a Crucial Role

In the first round of the Champions League group stage, Monaco defeated Barcelona 2-1. Japanese player Takumi Minamino played a pivotal role in this match, causing Barcelona to play with one man down early in the game.

Monaco returned to this top-tier competition after six years, hosting the formidable Barcelona at home. In the 10th minute of the match, Minamino, who started as an attacking midfielder, demonstrated his keen insight, creating an ideal start for Monaco.

According to Yahoo Sports Japan, Japanese national team midfielder Takumi Minamino’s crucial performance was one of the key reasons for Barcelona’s defeat. Just ten minutes into the game, Minamino quickly assessed the situation on the field and successfully intercepted Ter Stegen’s pass, almost setting up a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. In desperation, Garcia committed a rough foul, taking down Minamino, leading to the referee stopping the game.

Initially, Garcia was shown a yellow card, but after a VAR review, it was changed to a red card. Commentator Koji Nozoguchi remarked, “This was intentional; Embolo moved left, and Minamino seized the opportunity. This foul not only prevented a clear goal-scoring chance but could also result in a red card!” As he analyzed, the referee ultimately decided to change it to a red card, sending Garcia off the pitch directly.

This crucial moment immediately garnered widespread attention from fans, who highly praised Minamino’s performance with comments such as “Minamino is so smart,” “precise action,” “Minamino is great,” “Minamino’s defense is excellent,” and “this goal was so crucial.”

Benefiting from the early numerical advantage, Monaco took the lead in the 16th minute through Magnus Akeleyus. Although in the 28th minute, the 17-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal equalized for Barcelona with his individual skills, George Ilenia’s goal near the end of the match sealed the victory. Ultimately, Monaco overcame Barcelona, who had won their first five La Liga matches this season, securing this important Champions League victory.