Barcelona kicked off their 2025–26 UEFA Champions League campaign this Thursday with an away match at St. James’ Park against Newcastle United. Marcus Rashford was instrumental, netting twice and marking a historic moment for the Spanish side.
Rashford became the first English player to score for Barcelona in 36 years. The last to do so was Gary Lineker during the 1988–89 season, before he left Los Blaugranas to join Tottenham Hotspur at the end of that campaign.
Gary Lineker played for Barcelona for three years, from 1986 to 1989. During that time, he made 138 appearances and scored 51 goals, leaving an unforgettable mark on the Catalan side. Lineker had been the last English player to wear the Barcelona shirt in a major European tournament — until Marcus broke that streak as well this Thursday.
Rashford’s goals vs Newcastle
Rashford had played a secondary role at the start of his Barcelona tenure, coming off the bench in his first few matches. However, the injury to Lamine Yamal opened the door for the English forward to enter the starting lineup — and he made the most of it.
Against Newcastle, Marcus led the Catalan side with two crucial goals in their Champions League opener. The first came in the 58th minute, when Jules Kounde delivered a cross from the right that found Rashford unmarked inside the box, allowing him to head the ball past goalkeeper Nick Pope.
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Just nine minutes later, the former Manchester United forward showcased his full talent. He received the ball outside the box, weaved past a couple of defenders with a left-to-right diagonal run, and, once he found space, unleashed a stunning strike to make it 2–0. Near the end, Newcastle pulled one back through Anthony Gordon, but they couldn’t change the outcome.
What’s next for Barcelona?
The 2–1 win over Newcastle gave Barcelona an ideal start to the league phase of the Champions League. Now, their focus shifts to their next three La Liga matches, where they’ll face Getafe, Real Oviedo, and Real Sociedad.
After that stretch of domestic fixtures — all within one week — Hansi Flick’s squad will return to European action for their first major test of the season: a home clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, October 1, for Matchday 2 of the Champions League.
