Marcus Rashford has won his first trophy since leaving Manchester United on loan as his Barcelona side lifted the Spanish Super Cup after a thrilling 3-2 victory against rivals Real Madrid
Marcus Rashford of FC Barcelona looks on prior to the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and Como1907
Marcus Rashford has won his first trophy since leaving Manchester United on loan for Barcelona(Image: Getty)
View 5 Images
On-loan Manchester United star Marcus Rashford lifted his first trophy as a Barcelona player on Sunday evening. But the Englishman was limited to just 15 minutes in the final and his future looks somewhat bleak thanks to a thriving team-mate.
Rashford's Barcelona faced off against bitter rivals Real Madrid in the Super Cup final in Jeddah and it was superstar Raphinha who opened the scoring in the 36th minute. Vinicius Junior equalised in the second minute of added time in the first half but there was still time for Robert Lewandowski to fire Barcelona into a 2-1 lead before the break.
The crazy finish to the first half then saw Gonzalo Garcia level things for Los Blancos in the seventh minute of added time.
But was former Leeds winger Raphinha who won the game for the Catalan giants, scoring in the 73rd minute. Rashford replaced the game's MVP in the 83rd minute before missing a gilt-edged chance in second-half stoppage time after Frenkie de Jong was sent off.
Spanish media were quick to lambast Rashford for this miss but it was Raphinha who undoubtedly stole the show, much like in their 5-0 semi-final victory. This spells bad news for Rashford, who is competing with the 29-year-old for minutes under Hansi Flick. Media in Spain could not laud the Brazilian enough.
Rashford was limited to around 15 minutes in the final, with his preferred left-wing spot being occupied by Raphinha from the off. When he was subbed on, he found himself one-on-one in the fifth minute of added time but scuppered the chance.
Marca plainly wrote of Rashford in their post-match analysis: "He came on in the 83rd minute. He had a clear chance in stoppage time but sent the ball wide."
Marcus Rashford of FC Barcelona is challenged by Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid during the Spanish Super Cup Final between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium
Rashford failed to convert a late-game chance(Image: Getty)
View 5 Images
It was the game's MVP Raphinha who Marca were much more complimentary of, as they hailed him as the leader of Rashford's team, hinting at fewer and fewer minutes for the Englishman on the left. They added: "Raphinha's brace, yet another one, turned the Clásico on its head, securing the Super Cup.
"It happened last season. Raphinha, who's on his way to becoming Real Madrid's nemesis, is the true leader of Hansi Flick's Barcelona. His impact on this team has been analysed since his absence when he was injured at the end of September. Barça played nine matches without him, winning only five."
Mundo Deportivo
The miss was also the focal point of Mundo Deportivo's analysis of Rashford and they were more scathing. They wrote: "He missed a golden opportunity in stoppage time after a crucial defensive play. Then he lost focus on the subsequent defensive support, and Madrid almost equalised."
But again Raphinha, who Rashford filled in for earlier this season when he was sidelined with a thigh injury, was singled out for praise by Mundo Deportivo. They even went so far as to say he could currently be the world's best.
They stated: "Raphinha is undoubtedly the player in the best form in the world right now. He's absolutely decisive, his competitive spirit is contagious and he makes all the difference."
Barcelona's Raphinha, center, celebrates after scoring his second goal during the Spanish Super Cup final soccer match against Real Madrid at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah
The Brazilian grabbed a brace in the final(Image: AP)
View 5 Images
AS
Yet again, AS focused on Rashford's added-time miss as this was seemingly his only meaningful contribution in the limited playing time Flick handed him on the night. They penned: "He had the chance to kill the game, with a one-on-one with Courtois, inexplicably sending the ball wide."
Barcelona's Brazilian forward #11 Raphinha celebrates after winning the Spanish Super Cup final football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid
Raphinha celebrated the victory with his team-mates(Image: Getty)
View 5 Images
They also chose to credit Raphinha with lifting his side over the line in the match and pointed out that, although he missed a chance like Rashford's, he came back in the very next play to make amends.
"A true superstar," they wrote. "This Super Cup is practically Raphinha's after scoring four goals and providing an assist in two matches. In the final, after missing a clear-cut chance from Lamine, he quickly redeemed himself by scoring a fantastic goal in the very next play."
Sport
Sport were far less critical of Rashford's cameo, instead choosing to applaud his late-game runs that helped Barcelona breathe as their rivals hunted for an equalising goal. They stated: "He helped the team gain some breathing room with his runs."
Real Madrid's Raul Asencio, left, duels for the ball with Barcelona's Marcus Rashford during the Spanish Super Cup final soccer match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah
Sport were impressed by the Englishman's runs(Image: AP)
View 5 Images
But almost every major outlet in Spain were unanimous in the fact that Raphinha was the main attraction. They too hailed him as one of the world's best and went as far as to say that his outing deserved a Ballon d'Or.
Raphinha appears to be emerging as an almost unreplaceable star at Barcelona, which can only be bad news for the amount of gametime Rashford will see on the left flank. In their clash with Athletic Club for example Rashford was subbed on as early as the 65th minute.
"When the match seemed destined for penalties, he made it 3-2 for the Blaugrana, putting their biggest rivals on the ropes," wrote Sport of Raphinha. "A bit of luck, too. A fantastic performance, whether some like it or not, worthy of a Ballon d'Or."