On one of England’s more challenging pitches, Barcelona delivered a solid performance, stifling any attempts by the home side to gain an upper hand. Marcus Rashford made a significant impact by scoring two goals, one of which is already being considered for Goal of the Season, securing all three points for the Catalans in their first European match.
Rashford netted the opening goal in the 58th minute, expertly heading in a cross from Jules Kounde. He followed this up with another impressive goal just nine minutes later, firing a powerful shot from long range that struck the underside of the crossbar before finding the net.
Newcastle pushed for an equalizer late in the game when Anthony Gordon scored following a precise low cross from Jacob Murphy, but they were ultimately unable to find a goal in stoppage time. This narrow escape marked a thrilling evening of Champions League action, with fans expressing their reactions on social media platforms, as recapped by Softfootball.
Rashford’s stellar performance garnered him widespread acclaim. Supporter @realiambarcaman shared his enthusiasm:
What a memorable night for Marcus Rashford. What a time to score his first two goals for the club, Three points taken back to Spain.
Looking ahead, another fan, @abazwhyllzz, expressed optimism:
This year is our year of winning the champions league
Conversely, not all supporters were satisfied with the team’s overall performance. Fan @simpliismail offered a more critical perspective:
Yesterday was the day I know that so many Barça fans have zero football sense. All that they see as football is just seeing ball inside the net. A Barça fan with football sense would be worried by the poor performance by the team struggling to beat Newcastle.
@nickpily echoed these concerns, arguing that Barcelona needs to enhance their game significantly to compete effectively in Europe, while still praising Rashford’s efforts. He commented:
Not very convincing, but well done. Champions find a way to win without really playing well. Well Done to Marcus. He can only get better.
Supporters of Manchester United also joined the conversation, with some lamenting Rashford’s success away from the club. User @Redstormunited2 remarked:
I’m sorry starboy rashford please come back to Manchester United im begging you.
Newcastle fans expressed discontent as well, particularly about the team’s strategy and execution. Supporter @pmal5098 criticized the tactical decisions, stating:
We need to forget Gordon as the striker, he was far better coming off the left, we got the starting line up wrong tonight, Big Nick should have been leading the line and our midfield passing wasn’t the usual standard tonight!
Another fan, @FPLAddy25, felt that Newcastle’s late push was insufficient to change the outcome:
Passion was too late in the game needed that intensity the whole 90 we played well but lacked in the final 3rd better luck next time I suppose good try lads. Props to rashford though he did well tbh.
In their post-game commentary on X, Newcastle United referred to the match as a “narrow defeat.”
However, a fan quickly contested that perspective. @ima_jerry15016 articulated frustration regarding both the game’s outcome and the team’s performance, writing:
That was not a narrow defeat. Though you fóught hard but it wasn’t good enough. They came from Spain to deféat you in your home. It’s embarrassing.
The varied reactions from fans highlight the pressures and expectations facing both Barcelona and Newcastle United as they pursue success in Europe.
For Marcus Rashford, nights like this have been rare in recent seasons. With newfound confidence, he offered a glimpse of his potential, reminiscent of the player Manchester United once valued so highly.
Ultimately, it appeared that Manchester United was the one to lose out. Notably, two of the standout performers from the evening—Rashford and Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga—are players the club deemed expendable. In the second half, Rashford showed a level of confidence that has not always been apparent under previous managers.
This raises questions about his value and management challenges at the club. As Flick later noted, Barcelona’s style caters to Rashford’s strengths. The midfield’s resilience under pressure and the direct attacking play provide ample opportunity to utilize Rashford and Raphinha effectively on the flanks. Despite his promising start, Rashford remains an understudy to Lamine Yamal, who was unavailable for the clash against Newcastle.
