There was a strong Manchester United flavour to the game when Real Betis hosted FC Barcelona in La Liga as Antony faced off against Marcus Rashford.
Antony hasn’t quite hit the heights of his loan spell at Betis last season, but he has nonetheless been a key contributor and a fan favourite.
Marcus Rashford has also done well, but his loan-with-option-to-buy deal makes his situation slightly more precarious.
As Barcelona bested Betis in an eight-goal thriller that finished 5-3, the Spanish press had plenty to say about the duo, where one had a much better time than the other.
Antony Matheus dos Santos of Real Betis hits the ball during the La Liga EA Sports match between Real Betis and FC Barcelona at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville, Spain, on December 6, 2025
Photo by Jose Luis Contreras/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Antony vs Marcus Rashford in La Liga
The Betis vs Barcelona game was played in an interesting backdrop, as Antony returned from an injury for the marquee game, while Rashford received an opportunity to impress from the start.
Rashford has fallen down the pecking order recently with Raphinha’s return, prompting questions about whether Barcelona will buy him permanently.
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Therefore, this game was far more important for him than it was for Antony, who is the star of the show for an underdog team.
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It played out similarly, with Antony opening the scoring for Betis, before Ferran Torres’ quick hat-trick put Barcelona in the driving seat.
Barcelona were leading 5-1 at one point, but two late goals brought a semblance of respectability back for Betis, with Antony having a generally good game.
Rashford, on the other hand, was the weakest attacker on the pitch despite his team scoring five goals, and could count himself lucky to have played the full 90 minutes.
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He was sent a familiar warning by the Spanish press after the game, as his hot start at the club has given way to some disappointment.
Spanish press on Antony vs Marcus Rashford
The Spanish press has generally been kind to Rashford, appreciative of his efforts to make an impact for the club despite arriving on a temporary contract.
Antony is already a huge fan favourite in Seville, so the press has been even more forgiving of him, and the same pattern continued here.
E-Noticies warned Rashford after his performance vs Betis, saying that Hansi Flick wanted him to do more work off the ball with his pressing, but he failed to deliver.
Mundo Deportivo was more forgiving, noting his contribution to win a penalty for Barcelona, adding that he was a ‘disturbing’ presence for Betis.
Marca praised his ‘persistent’ display, noting his combination with Pedri that left Betis’ defence exposed on numerous occasions.
Antony, on the other hand, received encouragement for his performance, even if his team fell short on the day.
ABC noted his attacking contribution, as he netted a brilliant opener, before adding that Betis “crumbled without a defence”, leaving Antony’s goal as a consolation.
SPORT praised Antony for his “individual opportunities”, adding that he “never gave up” despite Betis conceding a flurry of goals.
MundoBetis also praised his goal, but said that it ultimately ended up being a “mirage”, as Barcelona stormed back to solidify their place at the top of the table.
Betis and Barcelona will both be in European action next, with midweek fixtures against Dinamo Zagreb and Eintracht Frankfurt, respectively.
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