Marcus Rashford silenced a raucous St. James’ Park with a second-half brace as Barcelona secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Newcastle United in their UEFA Champions League opener. The win extends the Catalan club’s impressive record against English opposition in the competition, now standing at 13 wins in their last 17 meetings.
From the first whistle, Newcastle, backed by a passionate home crowd, swarmed Barcelona with high-intensity pressing. The hosts had several clear-cut opportunities to take the lead in the first half, with Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes both failing to capitalize on promising attacks. Barcelona’s goalkeeper, Joan Garcia, was kept busy and proved a formidable barrier.
Despite the early pressure, Barcelona, with their patient, possession-based style, weathered the storm. The turning point came just before the hour mark when a cross from Jules Kounde found the head of the on-loan Manchester United forward, Marcus Rashford. He scored his first goal for the Blaugrana, heading the ball into the far corner to break the deadlock.
Nine minutes later, the England international delivered a moment of sheer brilliance. With a stunning individual effort, he unleashed a powerful shot that thundered into the top corner, leaving Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope with no chance and doubling Barcelona’s lead. The goal was Rashford’s 10th in 12 career starts against Newcastle, a remarkable scoring record against the Magpies.
As the match entered its final moments, Anthony Gordon managed to pull one back for Newcastle in the 90th minute, sparking a glimmer of hope for a late comeback. However, Barcelona held on to secure the three points, leaving Newcastle with just one win in their last five matches across all competitions.
The victory marks a strong start for Barcelona in the Champions League, while for Newcastle, it highlights the challenges they face in a tough European campaign.
