England International Marcus Rashford scores twice as Barcelona won 2-1 at Newcastle United on loan from Mann UTD.
Marcus Rashford scored Barcelona’s first goal as the English forward’s stunning braces brought him a 2-1 victory over Newcastle in the Champions League.
Rashford attacked twice in the second half nine-minute space at St James Park on Thursday, making his memorable return to England after a loan from Manchester United in July.
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The 27-year-old’s first goal in the Champions League since 2021 has seen the team not have European football this season, causing him to have a disastrous start to the Premier League campaign.
Anthony Gordon reclaimed one for Newcastle in the closing stages, but it was too late to save the points of the Champions League group phase opener.
Rashford was banished to Barcelona this whole semester last season after being loaned out to Aston Villa later in the campaign.
After emerging as a precocious teenager from United Youth Academy, he acquired Fett as the future of British football, Rashford’s career fell badly in recent years, despite claiming that he no longer focused on his career.
However, Rashford’s vibrant performance on Tyneside suggested he was about to embark on the much-anticipated Renaissance with Barcelona.
Rashford has often developed the habit of tormenting Newcastle, which was his seventh career goal for the Magpie.
Barcelona got off to a solid start in LaLiga with three wins from four games, without Spanish forward Ramin Yamal, and was sidelined in a 6-0 victory over Valencia with a gro caliber injury.
However, Rashford’s double guaranteed that Hansiflic’s team was not overlooked.
Barcelona, beaten by Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals last season, has not reached the final since 2015 when they last lifted the trophy.
However, the five-time European champions are expected to be a major contender for the season, which was a strong start to their challenge.
The defeat thwarted Newcastle’s hopes of getting off to a strong start by returning to the Champions League after failing to acquire it from the group stage between 2023-24.
Newcastle enjoyed one of the greatest nights in history in September 1997 when Fautino Asprila’s hat-trick was inspired by a 3-2 Champions League group stage victory against Barcelona.
Almost 28 years after a notable night at St. James Park, Asprila spurted from Colombia and saw its first clash with Barcelona since 2003.
Foreshadowed his influential display, Rashford exploded Barcelona’s first threat moment into the area before shooting at the side net.
Newcastle called for shots for most of the first half, with Anthony Elanga’s pace leading Barcelona’s defense to the cross towards Harvey Burns for the fierce strike that Joan Garcia left.
Robert Lewandowski tried to lift Barcelona out of lethargy, but Fabian Shah and Dan Byrne threw themselves into the final ditch block, keeping Paul at bay.
Newcastle midfielder Jollington stood up to meet the corner and saw the chance he saw from six yards early in the second half.
Despite that narrow escape, Barcelona was far more effective after the interval, taking the lead in the 58th minute.
Jules Kaunde whipped his cross into the area, and Rashford easily escaped Shale and filled Newcastle Keeper Nick Pope with a strong header from 12 yards.
Rashford doubled Barcelona’s advantage in the 67th minute.
Taking 25 yards of possessions from the goal, Rashford slid past Sandro Tonari, releasing a fierce strike that flashed into thin horns as it clenched the thin air.
Gordon set a tense finale when he met Jacob Murphy’s low cross and a clinical distance finish in the 90th minute, but Barcelona was held firmly.
