Fans and media made their thoughts clear on Marcus Rashford following his latest Barcelona performance
Marcus Rashford has been lauded by Spanish media after making the most of his opportunity in a rare Barcelona start.
Hanis Flick’s side extended their lead at the top of La Liga to four points with a 3-0 win over Mallorca at the Nou Camp. With Rafinha injured, Rashford was handed his first league start since January 3 and took his chance with both hands.
Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring in the 29th minute after a Rashford effort was saved. Lamine Yamal, scoring for a fifth game in a row, doubled the lead just after the hour before fellow teenager Marc Bernal completed victory with his first senior goal seven minutes from time.
But it was Rashford who received most of the acclaim from the media and fans, who gave the on-loan Manchester United forward a standing ovation when he was substituted midway through the second half.
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Mundo Deportivo called Rashford’s performance “hyperactive” and praised him for lifting Barca following a sluggish start. They said: “By far, one of Barca’s most purposeful players in a first half that was collectively very flat.
“Taking Flick’s challenge to heart, he assumed attacking responsibility when the game looked its worst, producing the most dangerous shots, the second leading to the 1-0 goal, and sending a beautiful free kick straight off the crossbar. Substituted to well-deserved applause.”
El Desmarque, alluding to the team’s slow start, praised Rashford and Yamal for waking Barca “from their siesta”. AS also praised Rashford, though pointed out that he was afforded more space than Yamal, who was “constantly facing a three-on-one on the right flank”. They also said that “Rashford’s form has improved throughout the season”.
The Barca Universal website gave Rashford an 8.5/10 rating and said: “Rashford was perhaps Barcelona’s most potent threat in the first half as he did not hesitate to cut in and shoot, creating a ruckus in the Mallorca area and bombarding Roman’s goal with powerful strikes.
“He also did well providing a wide threat, although his crosses were well defended for the greater part. In fact, the opening goal stemmed from his shot on goal which fell kindly for Lewandowski.”
The Football Espana site wasn’t quite a generous, giving him a 7/10 but still offered warm praise, saying: “Barcelona’s best attacker, and he can count himself unlucky that he did not find the back of the net with one of his ferocious strikes.”
Meanwhile, Barca Blaugranes said Barca woke up “thanks in large part to Marcus Rashford, who was the brightest and most active of the Blaugrana attackers”.
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