Why Marcus Rashford Was Substituted at Half-time Against Levante
- Marcus Rashford was handed his first start for Barcelona in the clash against Levante, but the Manchester United loanee found it difficult to influence proceedings
- The England international was withdrawn at half-time with his side trailing 2-0, capping off a frustrating outing
- Fortunately for Rashford, his teammates mounted a superb second-half comeback, turning the game around to secure a dramatic win
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Marcus Rashford’s first start for Barcelona ended in frustration as Hansi Flick substituted him at half-time against Levante on Saturday evening.
The 27-year-old, who joined the Spanish champions on loan from Manchester United this summer, is aiming to revive his career with the move.
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Rashford made his competitive debut off the bench in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Real Mallorca, but was given a starting role this time.
However, the England forward struggled to make an impact and was taken off at half-time with Barcelona 2-0 down.
Why Flick subbed off Rashford at half-time
Flick’s substitutions paid off as Barcelona mounted a dramatic turnaround, sealing a 3-2 victory thanks to a late Unai Elgezabal own goal.
When questioned about replacing Rashford at half-time, Flick explained:
"He showed us how good he is. In the second half, I had to change things and put Raphinha back in the starting eleven. Fortunately, Pedri ‘s goal helped us."
Barcelona come from behind to beat Levante
Barcelona found themselves trailing early when Ivan Romero struck from inside the box in the 15th minute.
Levante then doubled their advantage before half-time, as Alejandro Balde was penalised for handball after a VAR review and Jose Luis Morales calmly converted from the spot, leaving the champions with an uphill battle.
The Catalans responded after the break, with Pedri sparking the comeback by rifling a superb strike into the top corner in the 49th minute.
“We know this isn’t an easy pitch. In the first half, we didn’t play with enough pace. I’m happy with the team’s reaction,” Pedri said afterward.
Just three minutes later, Ferran Torres, who had earlier been denied by the crossbar, volleyed in the equaliser to make it 2-2.
The contest seemed headed for a draw, but in stoppage time Levante’s Unai Elgezabal accidentally diverted Lamine Yamal’s precise cross into his own net, completing Barcelona’s dramatic turnaround.
Barcelona target third straight win
Barcelona will be looking to extend their perfect start to the 2025-26 La Liga season when they travel to face Rayo Vallecano on August 31.
Hansi Flick will hope for a more routine outing after his side’s dramatic comeback against Levante.
As for Levante, despite the defeat, their spirited performance offered encouragement. They will now turn their focus to avoiding a third consecutive league loss when they visit Elche on August 29.
Source: YEN.com.gh
