The England international’s brilliant brace gave Barcelona a 2-1 victory over Newcastle in the Champions League on Thursday, with Marcus Rashford scoring his first goals for the club.
Following his loan spell with Manchester United in July, Rashford made a memorable return to England with two goals in nine minutes at St James’ Park.
Fans of United, whose team hasn’t played any European football this season and is already struggling with a poor Premier League campaign, will be disappointed watching the 27-year-old’s first Champions League goals since 2021.
In the final stages of their Champions League group stage opener, Anthony Gordon scored one point for Newcastle before it was too late.
Rashford and Ruben Amorim had a bad relationship last season, so he was let go by United and sent on loan to Aston Villa during the second half before being sent to Barcelona for the entire season.
Rashford’s career has slowed significantly in recent years because of claims he is no longer focused on his career, and he was once feted as the future of English football after graduating from United’s youth academy as a youngster.
Read more about Haaland’s 50 Champions League goals as Man City cruise over Napoli.
However, Rashford’s energetic performance on Tyneside suggested that he might be about to start the long-awaited renaissance with Barcelona.
It was Rashford’s seventh career goal against the Magpies, a habit he has frequently made of tormenting Newcastle.
Lamine Yamal, who had a groin injury that prevented Barcelona from winning the La Liga game 6-0 against Valencia, was out for the team after a strong start to his campaign.
However, Rashford’s double made sure Hansi Flick’s team didn’t miss Yamal.
Barcelona reached the final since they last won the trophy in 2015 after being defeated by Inter Milan in the semi-finals of last year’s Champions League.
However, the five-time European champions are anticipated to be among the top contenders this year, so this was a strong start to their challenge.
Newcastle’s hopes of a strong start in the Champions League were dashed by the defeat, which had them lose in the 2023-24 group stage.
Rashford Dazzles  ,
When Newcastle defeated Barcelona 3-2 in the Champions League group stage in September 1997, Faustino Asprilla scored the winner with one of the best nights in their history.
Asprilla flew in from Colombia to watch Newcastle’s first game against Barcelona since 2003, almost 28 years after that remarkable evening at St James’ Park.
Rashford snuck into the area before striking into the side-netting to give Barcelona’s first glimpse of danger as a foreshadowing his powerful display.
Anthony Elanga’s pace caused Barcelona’s defense for the majority of the first half, when he headed a fierce cross past Harvey Barnes for a deft finish that Joan Garcia palmed away.
Fabian Schar and Dan Burn threw themselves into last-ditch blocks to keep the Pole at bay as Robert Lewandowski attempted to lift Barcelona out of their agony.
Joelinton, a Newcastle midfielder, rose to meet a corner and fired a good-looking shot wide from six yards early in the second half.
Barcelona took the lead in the 58th minute despite that flimsy escape, but they were much more effective after the break.
Rashford was quickly eluded as he whipped his powerful header past Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope from 12 yards before Rashford could only get his shot in the area.
In stunning fashion, Rashford doubled Barcelona’s lead in the 67th minute.
Rashford unleashed a fierce strike that left Pope grasping in the air as it flashed into the top corner 25 yards from goal after passing Sandro Tonali.
Source: Channels TV
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