Newcastle 1-2 Barcelona: Rashford scores a brilliant game at St James' Park with two super goals
Published New:18/09/2025 - 23:08h
Updated New:18/09/2025 - 23:25h
Barça debuted with a victory in the 25/26 Champions League thanks to a double by Marcus Rashford. The 'Culés' defeated Newcastle (1-2) and add their first three points
FC Barcelona took a valuable victory from St. James' Park against Newcastle (1-2) thanks to a double by Marcus Rashford in the second half. The 'Azulgrana' team knew how to keep calm in England and struck at the precise moments to debut with a victory in Europe, something they couldn't do last season.
Hansi Flick made two surprising changes in his lineup. In addition to the returns of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski (both expected), the German also returned Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong to the starting lineup, the latter absent due to injury on Sunday against Valencia.
The 'charrúa' was a substitute in matchday 4 of La Liga, but returned as captain to face the bulk and height of the English players. Newcastle started the match with intense high pressure, although Barça, after the initial quarter of an hour, managed to take control of possession.
Joan García sustained Barça in the first half
The locals did damage by betting on the speed of Barnes and Elanga on the flanks, with the left being the most fragile side of Barça's defense. Gerard Martín had a hard time in the one-on-one against Elanga, while Koundé also had problems watching his back.
Joan García, however, was impeccable in the 'Azulgrana' goal. The '1' did not fail when cutting off balls low and high, in addition to making a great save in the 24th minute after a lethal counterattack by Newcastle where Barnes arrived free on the right to finish Elanga's pass from the other side.
Eddie Howe's team proposed an intelligent match, imposing a tight and vertical game. Barça arrived with danger for the first time in the 9th minute with a good breakthrough by Marcus Rashford, but the Englishman could not finish comfortably when stepping into the area. After the first half hour, the 'Culés' finally managed to stand in the rival's half, thanks to the good work of Frenkie and Pedri in midfield.
Rashford and Raphinha were very intense on the flanks, while Lewandowski also did his job dragging markers. Who was somewhat off was Fermín López. The player from Huelva had a hard time getting into the game, missing several passes and making bad decisions when covering spaces.
Towards the end of the first half, there were yellow cards for Gerard Martín and Dan Burn for strong tackles on Bruno Guimaraes and Jules Koundé, respectively. Previously, Joelinton was also cautioned for the locals. The match became very tight again and the score remained intact until halftime.
Marcus Rashford solved a very tough match for Barça
Both teams returned from the locker room without changes and Newcastle again created danger with a high shot from Joelinton in the 47th minute. The 'Magpies' started the second half better, again appealing to high pressure to try to surprise the 'Azulgrana' defense with balls into space.
Rashford, meanwhile, was the most active in Barça's attack. The Englishman tried again in the 50th minute with a shot directly into Schär's face and, in the 57th minute, opened the scoring with an impeccable header, taking advantage of a cross from Jules Koundé from the right.
The goal was a blow from which Newcastle took a long time to recover, although coach Eddie Howe moved the bench with the entry of Woltemade, Murphy, Thiaw and Willock in place of Barnes, Elanga, Schär and Joelinton.
To make matters worse, Rashford himself punished the 'Magpies' again in the 68th minute with a spectacular right-footed shot from outside the area. The '14' of the 'Culés', with time and space, positioned himself to take a violent shot that went into the net after grazing the crossbar.
In nine minutes, two sparks from the English winger solved a very tough match for Flick's team. The coach tweaked the lineup with the entry of Ferran and Christensen for Cubarsí and Lewandowski. Later, Eric García and Dani Omo entered, in addition to Marc Casadó in added time.
Towards the end, Anthony Gordon scored for the locals, finishing first-time a low pass from Murphy. Barça, despite the goal conceded, held the lead without too many scares in the seven minutes of added time given by the main referee.
In this way, Barcelona debuts with a victory in the league phase of the Champions League, adding three key points as a visitor. On October 1, Flick's team will receive Paris Saint-Germain for matchday 2, in Montjuïc.
Match details: Newcastle 1-2 FC Barcelona
- Newcastle, 1: Pope; Trippier, Schär, (Thiaw, min. 62) Burn, Livramento; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton (Willock, min. 62); Elanga (Murphy, min. 63), Barnes (Woltemade, min. 62) y Gordon.
- FC Barcelona, 2: Joan García; Koundé, Araujo, Cubarsí (Ferran, min. 69), Gerard Martín (Eric García, min. 81); De Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Fermín (Casadó, min. 90+3), Rashford (Olmo, min. 81); Lewandowski (Christensen, min. 69).
- Goals: 0-1, Marcus Rashford (min. 58); 0-2, Marcus Rashford (min. 67); Anthony Gordon (min. 90).
- Referee: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden). Cautioned Joelinton and Dan Burn for Newcastle. For Barcelona, he cautioned Gerard Martín, Fermín López, Frenkie de Jong and Marc Casadó.
- Stadium: St. James' Park.
- Incidents: match corresponding to matchday 1 of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26
