Barcelona defeated Mallorca 3-0 on the road on Saturday afternoon to start their La Liga campaign off to the ideal start. But Marcus Rashford, who made his competitive debut for the Spanish powerhouses, received a lot of attention.
However, the Englishman, who is on loan from Manchester United for the season, was forced to make do with a bench berth. It might take some time for him to establish himself as a consistent starter under Hansi Flick, especially with players like Raphinha and Lamine Yamal on the flanks. Yes, those two wingers were playing at their best that day. The Spaniard’s excellent cross set up the Brazilian for the first goal.
With a fantastic top-corner strike from beyond the box to make it 2-0, Ferran Torres, who was leading the line, also demonstrated why he started ahead of Rashford. Manu Morlanes was sent off, and shortly after, Vedat Muriqi received the same punishment, putting Mallorca in a bad position. However, Raphinha was relatively fortunate to escape his own red card for a brutal lunge, so the drama of the first half didn’t end there.
Yamal’s stunning goal in the closing minutes of the game sealed a 3-0 victory, making the second half less thrilling. Nevertheless, Rashford did make it onto the field, as the Englishman was substituted in with twenty-two minutes remaining.
Rashford’s Barcelona Debut Was Underwhelming
Rashford’s performance didn’t exactly light up the game. Although the home team was reduced to nine men and the game was already won, the 27-year-old would have preferred to make a slightly bigger impression.
He did not attempt a single dribble, failed to manage any shots on or off target, and only produced 0.07 predicted assists. He completed 10 of 11 passes, had 14 touches, and only lost possession three times. He was also reasonably clean with the ball. Although he did manage two crucial passes during that period, the winger’s debut was quite uneventful, and he will undoubtedly feel that he has a lot more to offer his new team.
Supporters Attack Rashford
Unfortunately for the Englishman, the majority of the fans’ opinions were also unfavorable. He appeared “nervous,” according to one, while another stated:
“Rashford i didn’t like that cameo at all nah, fix up on that for next game.”
Simply put, another said: “Rashford stinker.” Another person said that it might be an indication of further disappointment to come.
“Yes, this loan from Rashford… I’m feeling uneasy.
Simply put, another said: “Rashford stinker.”
More time to adjust to his new surroundings is needed, according to some: “Rashford needs more game time to get in the rhythm of Barca.”
“Rashford must quit being selfless. You’re the new guy, I understand. But you’re a striker. “Go for it, buddy.”
According to another, “Rashford needs confidence.”
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