Marcus Rashford’s first start for Barcelona didn’t go as planned, leaving the England forward with a frustrating evening on the pitch.
The 27-year-old joined the Catalan giants on loan from Manchester United last month, with an option to make the move permanent for around £30million.
Loan Signing Makes LaLiga Debut from the Bench
Rashford’s LaLiga journey began last week when he came off the bench during Barcelona’s comfortable 3-0 win over Mallorca on the opening day of the season.
Fans had been eager to see him start, and he finally got his chance against Levante on the left wing.
Raphinha played down the middle, with Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal covering the right.
Early Chances Fail to Make an Impact
Rashford had a few early opportunities to influence the game.
He nearly made something happen after a corner was cleared back to him, and later his snap-shot in the box forced a routine save from Levante’s goalkeeper Pablo Campos.
Despite his efforts, the England international struggled to make a real mark on the match.
Half-Time Substitution After Barca Falls Behind
Barcelona found themselves 2-0 down in the first half.
Ivan Romero opened the scoring after 15 minutes, calmly finishing past Joan Garcia, and Jose Luis Morales doubled Levante’s lead from the penalty spot just before the break following a handball by Alejandro Balde.
Rashford, along with Marc Casado, was substituted at half-time, replaced by Dani Olmo and Gavi.
Barcelona Mounts an Impressive Comeback
The Catalan side showed resilience after Rashford’s departure.
Within seven minutes, goals from Pedri and Ferran Torres brought Barcelona back on level terms.
The comeback was completed in the first minute of added time when Levante’s Unai Elgezabal inadvertently turned Lamine Yamal’s dangerous cross into his own net, sealing a dramatic turnaround.
Looking Ahead for Rashford at Barcelona
Although Rashford’s debut start ended in frustration, the comeback win highlights Barcelona’s determination and the opportunities ahead.
The English forward will be keen to make a stronger impact in upcoming matches and justify the club’s investment in his loan deal.
