Newcastle 1-2 Barcelona (Gordon 90′ | Rashford 58′, 67′)

ST JAMES’ PARK — On nights like this, you wonder why Marcus Rashford hasn’t gained a foothold in the pantheon of Europe’s best players.

A brilliant, virtuoso display for Barcelona at St James’ Park felt like a significant milestone in a career that had hit a fork in the road.

We have been here before, of course, but Rashford’s superb brace to down Newcastle United felt different.

For a start the two goals arrived in a Barcelona shirt, playing in a team that has pretensions of winning the Champions League.

But it was the wide smile that broke out when he was embraced by Hansi Flick after being substituted late on that hinted that this latest fresh start might be a turning point.

What a talent he is. This game was evenly poise

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