Watch highlights from Barcelona’s decisive victory over Real Madrid in El Clasico - as Marcus Rashford grabs the headlines.
For the first time ever, you can now watch highlights from key matches in Scotland and Spain right here on 3 Added Minutes – and we start that service with a bang, with highlights from Barcelona’s title-clinching victory over Real Madrid at the Camp Nou.
A stunning free-kick from Marcus Rashford and an emphatic finish from former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres secured both a comfortable win and a 29th Spanish title for the home side, who are now 14 points clear of their fierce rivals with three games left to play, and you can watch all the best moments from El Clasico in this very page courtesy of our partners Liber8.
Barcelona triumphant as Real Madrid descend into chaos
Barcelona’s 2-0 win sealed a title which had seemed certain for several weeks as they gradually extended their lead at the top of La Liga – and as Real Madrid collapsed further into chaos towards the end of a turbulent season.
The build-up to El Clasico was dominated by controversy in the Spanish capital. Club captain Federico Valverde was absent due to concussion, the result of a fight with team-mates Aurélien Tchouaméni which left the Uruguayan hospitalised. Tchouaméni played, perhaps unexpectedly, but his compatriot Kylian Mbappé missed out due to a reported hamstring injury which he sustained just days after 70 million people signed a petition demanding that he be kicked out of the club.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Real Madrid looks badly out of sorts in Barcelona, a team lacking both leadership and firepower up front. Barcelona took full advantage, as did Rashford.
The on-loan winger hasn’t always been a regular starter for Barcelona, and reports suggest that the Catalan club are uncertain as to whether to trigger the £26m purchase option in their deal with Manchester United. His sublime early free-kick, however, highlighted the impact the England international has had this season.
Despite starting just 24 matches in all competitions this season, he has scored 14 goals and provided a further 14 assists, and has had a huge impact on a number of games after coming off the bench – El Clasico was his first start in the last five games, but also provided his third goal in that span. A slight lull through late winter aside, Rashford has been exceptional.
Is Rashford the answer to Manchester United’s questions this summer?
As Barcelona dither over whether to sign Rashford permanently – dithering which seems to owe more to the club’s persistent financial problems rather than to Rashford’s performances – it’s worth wondering whether the 28-year-old might be the answer to some of his parent clubs’ questions if that deal doesn’t get done.
Rashford’s form for Manchester United in the two seasons leading up to his departure was undeniably poor and it was clear that he needed a change of scenery. That change has plainly done him good, and he has looked rather more like the player who exploded onto the scene at Old Trafford in a flurry of goals and lightning-fast breaks.
United’s decision to let Rashford leave was entirely understandable given the circumstances but has benefited both Aston Villa and Barcelona more than it has them. Rashford looks like he might be worth rather more than £26m to them right now.
With the once toxic atmosphere at Old Trafford seemingly sweetened since Michael Carrick took interim charge, it may be that Rashford could be welcomed successfully back into the fold, and he would certainly offer the combination of pace, directness and finishing prowess which they need up front. United are casting around for fresh faces in attack to provide depth alongside Benjamin Šeško, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, and Rashford wouldn’t cost them a penny.
They may not have the choice, of course. Barcelona have the right to exercise their purchase option and there would be no take-backs for Manchester United if they did. Nor does Rashford himself seem keen to return.
“I'm not a magician but if I was I would stay at Barcelona,” Rashford told the Spanish press after the match. “We will see. Football is unpredictable but for now, I will just enjoy it, live in the moment and reassess at the end of the season and see what is possible."
Perhaps the issues that caused Rashford to stutter at Manchester United remain, and perhaps that would make bringing him back into the fold a non-starter. But the quality is there, the goals are there, and one wonders what might now happen if Barcelona decide that they can’t afford the player whose brilliant set piece set them on their way to a famous derby win and yet another Spanish championship.
Continue Reading