Add as preferred source on Google
Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford suffered a blow to his Champions League dreams when Barcelona suffered a defeat in the first leg of their quarter-final clash.
Marcus Rashford has been in great form in the Champions League this season, but he could not save his Barcelona side from defeat at Camp Nou on Wednesday evening.
Barcelona lost 2-0 to Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid, meaning they will have to travel to Madrid and hope to turn the tie on its head in the second leg.
Manager Hansi Flick was full of praise for Rashford ahead of the clash, and Rashford starred against Atletico Madrid in their La Liga clash just last week. But he had no impact on the scoreline this time around.
Photo by Aitor Alcalde Colomer/Getty Images What is Marcus Rashford truly worth in 2026 after his Barcelona loan?
Barcelona have a £26m buy option for Marcus Rashford, but what is he actually worth in today’s market?
Credit: Getty Images What Spanish press said about Marcus Rashford vs Atletico Madrid
Marcus Rashford played 73 minutes of Barcelona’s quarter-leg clash before being replaced. He spent the first half on the left before playing up front after Pau Cubarsi’s red card left the Catalan side with 10 players.
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo described Rashford’s performance as “brave”, adding: “He used his time to test the keeper on three occasions, twice finding Musso very alert and shooting wide on the other. He showcased his speed, taking on his opponents. A goal was disallowed for an earlier offside. A free kick struck the crossbar. He was a fighter. The best player on the pitch.”
Marca were less complimentary, giving Rashford a 5/10 for his overall performance.
“He played as a striker without Lewandowski, but stuck to his game plan. Excellent runs, very direct, involved in the play, but a bit wasteful with his finishing. He hit a free kick against the crossbar. His lack of accuracy cost him,” they wrote.
Finally, Sport gave Rashford a 6/10 rating and described his display as “electric”.
They wrote: “The British player, especially energetic and committed in attack, performed to perfection, creating danger going forward. He had a goal ruled out for offside. In the second half, he faded a bit.”
What do you think is Marcus Rashford’s legacy at Man Utd?
Marcus Rashford is chasing personal Champions League record
During his 10 years as a Manchester United first-team star, the furthest Rashford got in the Champions League was the quarter-finals.
United reached the quarter-final stage in 2018/19 before being knocked out by Barcelona.
READ MORE: Marcus Rashford has thrown away his ultimate Man Utd dream to win league title at Barcelona
During his loan at Barcelona, Rashford has the opportunity to reach the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in his career, but a 2-0 defeat in the first leg means he is fighting an uphill battle.
Barcelona will have to beat Atletico away from home in the second leg, which is scheduled for Tuesday, 14 April.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox