Rashford lights up Champions League with brilliant brace

Marcus Rashford made a stunning return to England to fire Barcelona to a 2-1 away win over Newcastle United in their Champions League opener on Friday (AEST).

England international Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, scored both goals at St James' Park as the Spanish champions highlighted why they are one of the favourites for the trophy.

Rashford's opener was his first goal for his new club as he redirected a cross perfectly with his head.

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But it was his second that will live on in the competition's highlight reels, flashing quick feet to create space outside the box and then rifling a unstoppable shot into the top left corner.

England manager Thomas Tuchel watched on in the stands with a neutral expression but his mind must be exploring what a rejuvenated Rashford could do for his team.

The 27-year-old has scored 18 goals in 64 appearances for his country.

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Rashford joined United's youth system at the age of seven and scored 87 goals in 287 games for the senior team.

He was initially loaned out to Aston Villa after falling out of favour with the under-siege Ruben Amorim before his move to Spain.

"It's a new way of football, but honestly I'm enjoying it all and I think it's making me a better player," Rashford said post-match.https://x.com/danielstorey85/status/1968774501648187597

"It's an amazing experience. I've always been a huge admirer of Barcelona. Obviously most people my age have watched them play from when we was younger - it's amazing football, amazing players there and we want to win as much as possible."

Rashford said he had been given the licence to express himself as he explained his second goal.

"It was just a split second where I felt there was a gap and I could see the far post. I thought just try and get a shot off and the defensive lad in front was trying to block it, so I thought I'd lift it a little bit.

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"And when you're going away from the goal, it's difficult to generate the power to keep it low. So I thought 'let me just try and aim high', and then I knew when I caught it'll take the keeper some doing to stop it."

Rashford said he was determined to make the most of his loan opportunity at one of the world's iconic clubs.

"I'm full of excitement, I'm very, very motivated, determined, and I think just the quality that we've got in the team, that excites me alone. It's refreshing to play with these guys.https://x.com/StanSportFC/status/1968812529712505341

"The team's so young but they play with such confidence, such understanding of the game."

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is a huge admirer and trusted Rashford to start in place of the injured Lamine Yamal.

"I've been following Marcus Rashford since his early days at Manchester United and I've always thought he's incredible. What I've seen these past few weeks is very good," Flick said before the match.

United great Nicky Butt also predicted Rashford would star in Spain.

"I've just got a sneaky feeling he's just going to blow it away, I really do. Because I've known him since he was seven, eight, nine, he's got such natural ability," Butt said before the game.

"And I think when Marcus came onto the scene, a young player, he didn't have any fears, he didn't have anything going on in his head. I remember him making his England debut, he just got the ball and faced up the fullback and runs at them, and his best position is off the left, and he can play up front off the left, and he had no fear, he was doing it all the time.

"And then he got into the first team and become the star. He was coming and he had loads of hype around him with all the good stuff he was doing off the pitch as well.

"And I think Marcus was then thinking too much about his game, and I think that's what's killed him.

"But now going to Barcelona, I've just got a funny feeling that he'll do really well."

Anthony Gordon scored a late consolation goal for Newcastle but Barcelona were able to survive seven minutes of added time.

"To be honest, we are not used playing against players who keep the ball in this way," Gordon said.

"Yes, we faced Chelsea and Manchester City before, but they were never like this."https://x.com/StanSportFC/status/1968787813647990874

Rashford joined Barcelona on loan in July for this season only after the club had been snubbed in their attempt to lure Spain winger Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao.

He had once been considered among Europe's top talents, but in recent years had seen his career stall.

So there were doubts about his ability to significantly contribute to a team stacked with talent that had reached the Champions League semi-finals last season and won a domestic double of La Liga and Copa del Rey.

Rashford played minutes in all four of Barcelona's La Liga games, and been substituted at halftime in one of his two previous starts, without scoring.

After his goals, Flick said that he was "not surprised" by Rashford's performance.

"This match, these two goals, here in England, in the first Champions League game, that is just great. That gives him confidence and shows what he can do," Flick said.https://x.com/FCBarcelona/status/1968772650420826116

"He is a great talent, with incredible skills and incredible finishing."

Rashford said the team is fully focused.

"The ambition is to win the Champions League, nothing else is on our minds," he said. "It is going to be tough, we know that."

- with AP