Rashford’s double seals Barcelona’s 2-1 Champions League win

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Photo:Reuters

Marcus Rashford made a stunning return to England by scoring twice for Barcelona in their 2-1 Champions League win against Newcastle United on Thursday night. The match, held at St James’ Park, was filled with excitement, drama, and a bit of history.

Rashford’s Big Night

The 27-year-old forward, on loan at Barcelona after leaving Manchester United this summer, finally showed flashes of his best form. In just nine minutes during the second half, he scored two brilliant goals that silenced the home crowd and reminded everyone why he was once seen as the future of English football.

Rashford’s first goal came in the 58th minute when Jules Kounde whipped in a fine cross. Rashford cleverly lost his marker and powered a header past Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope. Just nine minutes later, he scored again, and this time it was pure magic. Picking the ball up 25 yards from goal, he dribbled past Sandro Tonali and smashed a shot into the top corner. Pope had no chance.

These goals were Rashford’s first in the Champions League since 2021, and for Manchester United fans watching at home, it may have felt painful. United are not even playing in Europe this season, while their former star is shining brightly for another giant club.

Newcastle’s Fightback Falls Short

Despite the shock of going two goals behind, Newcastle did not give up. In the 90th minute, Anthony Gordon gave them hope with a close-range finish after a smart cross from Jacob Murphy. The home fans roared, urging their team on, but it was too late. Barcelona held their ground and secured three valuable points to begin their group-stage campaign.

Rashford’s Journey – From Struggles to Revival

Rashford’s career has been rocky in recent years. Once celebrated as England’s golden boy, his form dipped, and critics questioned his focus on football. Last season, he fell out of favor with United’s manager Ruben Amorim, and was sent on loan to Aston Villa before being shipped off to Barcelona for this campaign.

But this performance suggested a fresh start. His energy, sharpness, and hunger were back. Rashford has always enjoyed playing against Newcastle, and these goals were his seventh and eighth career strikes against them. For him personally, this could mark the beginning of a new chapter.

Barcelona’s Champions League Ambitions

Barcelona are off to a good start in La Liga with three wins out of four, but the Champions League is where they truly want to prove themselves. The Spanish giants have not won the trophy since 2015 and lost to Inter Milan in the semifinals last season. With players like Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal (currently injured), and now Rashford stepping up, they hope to be serious contenders again.

Hansi Flick’s side showed resilience after a slow first half. Newcastle pressed hard, with Joelinton missing a golden header chance, and Anthony Elanga troubling the defense with his pace. But once Rashford scored, Barcelona controlled the game and looked far more dangerous.

Newcastle’s European Dreams Tested

For Newcastle, this was a tough start to their return to the Champions League. They were desperate to relive the magic of 1997 when Faustino Asprilla scored a famous hat-trick to beat Barcelona 3-2 at St James’ Park. Asprilla was even present in the stands to watch this game, hoping for a repeat.

However, this time the Spanish side had the last laugh. Newcastle still have time to recover in the group stage, but they will need to be sharper in front of goal if they want to progress beyond this round, unlike last season when they failed to make it past the group stage.

A Night to Remember for Rashford

For Rashford, the night was about proving himself. From a player many thought was losing his way, he delivered two world-class goals on a big European stage. His performance gave Barcelona fans hope and left Newcastle supporters frustrated. More importantly, it reminded everyone that Marcus Rashford still has the talent to be a star at the top level.

Marcus Rashford,Barcelona