Rashford Stars as Barcelona Beat Newcastle 2-1 in UCL Opener

In a gripping Champions League clash at St James’ Park, Marcus Rashford stole the show with two brilliant goals to lead Barcelona to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Newcastle United.

The Manchester United loanee, now thriving in Spain, proved his class with a performance that left fans buzzing.

Newcastle, managed by Eddie Howe, came out firing, creating chance after chance through Anthony Elanga’s pinpoint crosses. But Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes couldn’t find the net, missing several golden opportunities.

Rashford made them pay, heading in a perfect cross from Jules Kounde early in the second half.

Just nine minutes later, he unleashed a stunning long-range shot that dipped and swerved, smashing off the underside of the crossbar to double Barcelona’s lead.

• Marcus Rashford’s double fires Barcelona past Newcastle in UCL thriller
• Barcelona edge Newcastle 2-1 as Rashford shines with stunning brace
• Rashford’s brilliance seals Champions League opener win for Barcelona

Speaking after the match, the 27-year-old was all smiles: “I’m buzzing, honestly. Playing here is refreshing, and the team’s quality gets me fired up.” His manager, Hansi Flick, was equally impressed, saying Rashford’s confidence from this brace could take him to new heights. Rashford’s goals, remarkably, came from an xG of just 0.37, showing his knack for seizing big moments.

Newcastle kept pushing and finally got a late goal through Gordon, but it was too little, too late. Howe was gutted, telling, “We were right in it, but we just didn’t have that killer touch.” Despite outshooting Barcelona, Newcastle’s missed chances cost them dearly.

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Rashford’s masterclass, watched by England boss Thomas Tuchel, was a reminder of his talent after a tough spell at Manchester United and a short stint at Aston Villa. Now at Barcelona, he’s clearly loving life, calling the move “amazing” and praising the young, exciting squad. For Newcastle, it’s back to the drawing board to sharpen their finishing, while Barcelona’s European campaign is off to a flying start.