FC Barcelona debuted with a victory in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 thanks to a brilliant performance by Marcus Rashford. The English striker led the Azulgrana attack against Newcastle (1-2) scoring the goals of the victory, both with remarkable resolutions from the technical point of view.
Barça's '14' was, from minute 1, the player who caused the most problems for the 'magpies' defense. The winger won the individual duel against Kieran Trippier, repeatedly overflowing on the left and completing a total of 6 shots. 2 of them were on goal, impossible for goalkeeper Pope.
High-quality double for Rashford against Newcastle
The first goal of the night fell in the 58th minute. 'Rashy' anticipated the Newcastle center-backs to head a cross from Jules Koundé from the right. The resolution was complex, but the Englishman managed to hit the ball with his forehead, giving it ideal placement and speed to beat Pope's stretch.
Nine minutes later the second would fall, the most beautiful of the day. Marcus drove several meters and, with time and space, put together a very powerful right-footed shot, impossible for the rival goalkeeper. The ball grazed the crossbar, violently entering the nets to leave the stands of a St. James' Park speechless, which had already suffered the 27-year-old striker on multiple occasions.
In 15 previous matches with United, Rashford scored 5 goals against the 'magpies', three of them at their stadium. Well, with his double on Thursday, he has now scored 7 goals against the 'black and whites'. Only Leicester (8) and Manchester City (7) suffered a similar punishment from the now culé winger.
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Rashford scored a historic double with Barça in the Champions League
In addition to being his first official goals with Barcelona (he scored one against the Korean Daegu in preseason), his double against Newcastle was historic for the Azulgrana team for two reasons. First, because it allowed the culés to start a Champions League edition winning away from home for the first time since the 2005/06 season.
On that occasion, the team then managed by Frank Rijkaard defeated Werder Bremen (0-2) with goals from Deco and Ronaldinho, the latter from a penalty. In that season, the culés would lift their second Champions League in Paris, against Arsenal (2-1).
In addition, Rashford became the fifth Barça player capable of scoring two goals in England against a Premier League team. The first to achieve it was Ronaldinho, in the round of 16 of 2004/05 against Chelsea.
Later, Zlatan Ibrahimovic did the same against Arsenal in 2010 (quarter-finals) and Luis Suárez did the same in 2015 against Manchester City (group stage). Leo Messi, for his part, achieved this feat on a couple of occasions: against Arsenal in 2016 (round of 16) and Tottenham in 2018 (group stage).
Marcus Rashford's records against Newcastle
- Minutes played: 82
- Goals: 2
- Assists: 0
- Chances created: 2
- Completed passes: 29 of 38 (76%)
- Dribbles: 0/2
- Duels won: 2 of 8 (25%)
- Balls recovered: 6
- Shots on goal: 2/6
- Fouls: 1
Rashford opens up about his adaptation in Barcelona
After the match, 'Rashy' spoke with 'Movistar+' about his great performance and how he has lived his first months in the Azulgrana team. The '14' opened up about his adaptation, making it clear how much he has worked to, little by little, recover his best version.
"It's difficult to be a starter because we have a team with top players. The fact of arriving in a new city, new culture... I feel more and more comfortable. I'm enjoying it. As the season progresses I think I'll be playing better", said the 27-year-old striker, in statements quoted by 'MARCA'.
In addition, the Manchester native revealed how his great goals were at St. James' Park, a stadium where he had previously scored on 3 occasions with United. "In the header goal I attack the space in their defense a little earlier and I focus on the contact of the ball and putting it down. That was more difficult", explained Marcus.
In turn, he added: "In the second one the technique is good, but I have worked on this all my life; it's more about confidence and daring near the goal". The 27-year-old striker has 2 goals and 1 assist in his last two games as a starter, so he is making the most of Lamine Yamal's absence due to injury.