Marcus Rashford finds goalscoring touch as Barcelona win at Newcastle

Marcus Rashford reminded Manchester United of what they are missing with a stunning double to ease Barcelona to a 2-1 Champions League victory at Newcastle.

The 27-year-old loanee, who scored in the Red Devils’ Carabao Cup final victory over the Magpies in 2023, broke the deadlock at St James’ Park with a 58th-minute header and then rifled home a second from distance in front of England boss Thomas Tuchel to make Eddie Howe’s men pay for missed chances earlier in the game.

Anthony Gordon, who returned from a domestic suspension in place of record signing Nick Woltemade, and Harvey Barnes both might have put the hosts in front before the break as they enjoyed the better of the chances, if not the possession, before Rashford’s intervention.

However, there was to be no repeat of Newcastle’s famous Faustino Asprilla-inspired 3-2 win over the Catalan aristocrats 28 years ago as they were taught a harsh lesson about life at European football’s top table despite Gordon’s late strike.

St James’ reverberated to a cacophony from the stands as Barnes and Gordon combined to harry Barca keeper Joan Garcia and defender Pau Cubarsi into early errors in a high-octane start to proceedings.

Gordon missed his kick in front of goal after Anthony Elanga had shown full-back Gerard Martin a clean pair of heels down the Magpies’ right to send in a low sixth-minute cross, and Garcia gratefully claimed Barnes’ ball in after he had exchanged passes with Sandro Tonali.

The home side were served with a warning when Rashford turned Kieran Trippier inside his own half and raced in on goal only to drag his effort wide, and with the excellent Pedri and Frenkie De Jong seeing plenty of the ball, the visitors started to make an impact.

Nick Pope did just