In the end Marcus Rashford did get to make his competitive debut for Barcelona as they began their defence of the La Liga title. Formally registered a little after 10.30 on Saturday morning, Barcelona’s economic obstacles overcome, he was introduced just after 9pm with 22 minutes left of a sticky and ultimately successful night in Mallorca. By the time he pulled on his shirt and stepped up the line, one of three subs brought on, the temperature had dropped a little, if still not enough, the game was already won, he was up against just nine men, and he got 10 touches. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
Earlier than expected, too: Rashford had insisted he was confident but the doubts over him being registered were not resolved until the morning of the match. And so, on 68 minutes, there he was waiting to come on.
Playing through the middle with Barcelona already 2-0 up and drifting through a second half that Hansi Flick said he didn’t like at all, Rashford produced a couple of neat layoffs, a handful of passes and had two fleeting glimpses of goal. In one, he was a little slow to react, in the other the ball was caught under his feet as he trued to cut back inside. He did though get a close-up glimpse of another moment of magic from Lamine Yamal, who provided the final touch with that Lamine Yamal goal. That’s some teammate he has there.
