Marcus Rashford's full debut for Barcelona was cut short after just 45 minutes, as the Spanish giants mounted a comeback to secure a 3-2 victory against Levante. The on-loan Manchester United forward started on the left wing but was substituted at halftime with Barcelona trailing 2-0.
The first half saw Levante, the newly-promoted side, take a commanding lead. Iván Romero opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour, capitalizing on a well-timed run and clever combination play with Roger Brugue and José Luis Morales. Morales then doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in added time after Alejandro Balde was penalized for handball following a VAR review.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick made two changes at halftime, bringing on Dani Olmo and Gavi for Rashford and Marc Casado. The tactical switch proved effective, as Barcelona rallied in the second half. Pedri scored with a swerving shot from distance, and Ferran Torres quickly followed up with a goal from a corner, leveling the score within seven minutes of the restart. The comeback was completed in the 90th minute when Unai Elgezabal inadvertently redirected Lamine Yamal's cross into his own net, securing a dramatic win for Barcelona.
Rashford's move to Barcelona comes after he reportedly fell out of favor with Manchester United's manager, Ruben Amorim. The 27-year-old hopes to revitalize his career in Spain, and Flick has expressed confidence that Barcelona will see the best version of Rashford this season. Rashford made his debut for Barcelona as a late substitute in their season opener against Mallorca.
While Rashford's full debut was brief, his manager has been impressed with his contributions so far. Flick stated that Rashford "gives us more possibilities" and that his "strength is first touch and with his dribbling and his speed, he is really helpful for our game".
Despite the optimism surrounding his move, some have questioned whether Rashford possesses the necessary attributes to succeed at Barcelona. Former Manchester United player Roy Keane has expressed doubts about Rashford's "intelligence" and ability to adapt to the Spanish league. Gary Neville, another former United player, has voiced concerns that Rashford might experience a repeat of previous inconsistent seasons. Only time will tell if Rashford can overcome these doubts and establish himself as a key player for Barcelona.
Barcelona's victory over Levante marks their second consecutive La Liga win to start the season. However, Flick was reportedly "less than impressed" with his team's performance in their 3-0 win against Mallorca, indicating that there is still room for improvement.