Barcelona began their new European journey in victorious fashion thanks to a 2-1 win away to Newcastle at St. James’ Park in Matchday 1 of the League Phase of this season’s Champions League .
Barça went into one of the toughest grounds in England and put on a very professional display, never allowing the home team to gain any momentum and quieting the crowd thanks to a star turn from Marcus Rashford, who opened his Barça account with two goals, one of them a Goal of the Season contender, to give the Catalans all three points in their European opener.
The Manchester United loanee broke the deadlock in the 58th minute with a superb header from Jules Kounde’s left-footed cross. And his second goal was even better, a thunderous strike from distance nine minutes later that beat Joan Garcia via the underside of the crossbar.
Newcastle threatened a late comeback when Anthony Gordon converted Jacob Murphy’s precise low cross, but the Magpies were unable to find a stoppage-time equaliser. The narrow escape capped a dramatic night of Champions League football, with fans taking to social media platform X to share their thoughts on the game as garnered by Softfootball.
Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford stole the headlines with a brace, earning praise from supporters. One fan, @realiambarcaman hailed his impact:
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.
Others were already looking ahead with confidence. Supporter @abazwhyllzz posted:
This year is our year of winning the champions league
But not everyone was convinced by the display. Some questioned the overall performance despite the victory. Fan @simpliismail offered a more critical take:
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.
Echoing that sentiment, @nickpily agreed with the assessment, suggesting that Barcelona must improve significantly if they are to mount a serious challenge in Europe, giving a thumbs up to Rachford. He wrote:
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.
Manchester United supporters also weighed in on Marcus Rashford’s performance, with some expressing regret at seeing him shine abroad. User @Redstormunited2 wrote:
I’m sorry starboy rashford please come back to Manchester United im begging you.
Some Newcastle supporters also voiced their frustrations with the team’s setup and execution on the night. @pmal5098 questioned the tactical choices, suggesting Anthony Gordon was less effective when deployed centrally he wrote:
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 supporter, @FPLAddy25 felt the late surge of energy came too late to influence the result:
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.
Following Newcastle United’s post on X describing their Champions League opener as a “narrow defeat” at St. James’ Park.
A fan was quick to challenge that view. @ima_jerry15016 expressed frustration at both the result and the 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 mixed reactions from fans underline the pressure and expectations surrounding both Barcelona and Newcastle United as they continue their push for European glory.
There have been precious few nights like these for Marcus Rashford in the last two seasons, and yet once his confidence soared so there was a glimpse of the player whom Manchester United once had and lost.
In the end, it was Manchester United who came out worse. Two of the evening’s best attackers were players they have decided are surplus to requirements, in Rashford and Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga the most potent attacking force in the first half. The second half belonged to Rashford in whom Flick seem to have considerably more faith than Ruben Amorim.
There is no doubt that Amorim and his predecessor Erik ten Hag encountered problems with Rashford. He has not always been an easy player to manage. Yet nights like these again raise the question of whether he is perhaps worth the trouble.
As Flick would later say, this Barcelona team suit his qualities. The midfield is difficult to press and there is a more direct style with an emphasis on getting Rashford and Raphinha away down the wing. Whatever he does for Barcelona, Rashford remains for now the understudy to Lamine Yamal, who was not fit to face Newcastle.
