Marcus Rashford scored his second Champions League goal for Barcelona on Tuesday night, helping Hansi Flick’s side beat Olympiakos 6-1.
Although Barcelona were far from their best, they still led 2-0 at half-time thanks to two goals from Fermin López.
Ayoub El Kaabi halved the difference from the penalty spot under strange circumstances. He scored a header in open play, but the ball hit Eric Garcia’s arm and deflected away from El Kaabi, leaving Daniel Podence, who assisted the header, in an offside position.
After that, the match turned completely in Barcelona’s favor.
Just four minutes after El Kaabi’s goal, Santiago Hetze was sent off for a highly controversial second yellow card and Olympiakos collapsed.
Within 11 minutes of Hetze’s sending off, Lamine Yamal converted a penalty – scored by Rashford – which gave Barca a two-goal lead and a flurry of four goals in 11 minutes.
Fermin completed his hat-trick with a superb volley between two brilliant finishes from Rashford.
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Although Rashford was unable to complete his treble, it was another very positive night for him in a Barcelona shirt.
The player, on loan from Manchester United, made a comeback in this season’s Champions League, scoring twice in the first round against Newcastle United and providing an assist in the second match against Paris Saint-Germain.
This means Rashford will be involved in the most goals in any competition in 2025/26. Only Julian Álvarez (10 goals) and Kylian Mbappé (17) have contributed more in all competitions in La Liga this term, with Rashford scoring nine.
He has been involved in a goal in eight of the last nine games for the Blaugrana.
Rashford is a reinvigorated player who is thriving in a system that suits him perfectly.
Although he led from the front against Olympiakos, he mostly played on the left wing, and being able to prove himself in both positions was a big boost for him and Flick.
His return is not only good news for Barça, Flick and the player himself, but also for Manchester United and England.
Rashford has shown he is still a player United can use, but that chapter appears to have ended. If he somehow stopped scoring now, Barça probably wouldn’t trigger their £26m buy option. But if he continues to do this, they will activate it the moment it becomes available.
Both goals against Olympiakos came from the front post, with Konstantinos Tsolakis rooted in his line of instinctive, clinical and vintage Rashford.
TNT Sports’ Adam Virgo said his second was a “top quality finish” from outside the box. It certainly was.
Rashford and Barcelona next? Real Madrid in El Clasico. delicious.
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