Marcus Rashford finally made his competitive debut for Barcelona as they kicked off their La Liga title defense. Registered just after 10:30 AM on Saturday morning after the club resolved their financial hurdles, he came on in the 68th minute during a tense but ultimately victorious match against Mallorca. By the time he entered as one of three substitutes, the game was already won against nine men, and though he only managed ten touches in the remaining 22 minutes, it marked a promising start.
His debut came earlier than expected—while Rashford had remained confident, registration doubts weren’t settled until matchday morning. Playing centrally with Barcelona already 2-0 up in a sluggish second half that manager Hansi Flick admitted he disliked, Rashford showed glimpses of his quality with a few neat passes and two half-chances. One saw him react a fraction too late, while the other got stuck under his feet as he tried to cut inside. Still, he got a front-row seat to another moment of brilliance from Lamine Yamal, who capped off the night with a goal—proof of the talent Rashford now shares the pitch with.
A training clip had circulated earlier in the week showing Yamal declaring, “I’m unstoppable,” after leaving a defender bewildered, and he wasted no time backing up that claim. Just two minutes into the match, he twisted past Johan Mojica with ease, serving early notice that Mallorca were in for a long night. Five minutes later, he delivered a seemingly effortless cross to the far post, where an unmarked Raphinha headed Barcelona into the lead. The goal felt almost too simple—so much so that the referee paused to check for offside before confirming it stood.
Mallorca responded with Vedat Muriqi opting to pass instead of shoot in a dangerous position, while Mojica found some joy down the left whenever freed from Yamal’s shadow. Takuma Asano attempted an overhead kick, and Muriqi forced a save from Barcelona’s goalkeeper Joan García, but the hosts struggled to truly threaten.
Then came Barcelona’s second—a stranger goal than the first. Yamal cut inside and fired a shot that deflected off Antonio Raíllo’s head, leaving the defender crumpled on the turf. As the ball looped back down, Yamal controlled it before Ferran Torres took over, stumbling past defenders and smashing a stunning strike into the top corner.
### Roundup: Kane and Díaz Fire Bayern to Super Cup Win
Bayern Munich claimed the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup with a 2-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart, courtesy of goals from Harry Kane and Luis Díaz. The Bavarians looked sharp throughout, with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in fine form ahead of the Bundesliga season.
Kane, last season’s top scorer, capitalized on a defensive error by Luca Jaquez to give Bayern an 18th-minute lead. Stuttgart pushed for an equalizer, with reported Bayern target Nick Woltemade denied by Neuer from close range. The veteran keeper came to the rescue again in the 75th minute, tipping a deflected shot over the bar to preserve the win.Here’s a more natural and fluent version of your text while keeping the original meaning:
Díaz Scores on Debut as Monaco and Lyon Start Strong
Luis Díaz, a summer signing from Liverpool, scored on his competitive debut for Bayern Munich, heading in Serge Gnabry’s cross 13 minutes from time. The Colombian striker celebrated by mimicking Diogo Jota’s video game tribute (pictured). Stuttgart pulled one back in stoppage time through Jamie Leweling’s close-range header.
Meanwhile, Eric Dier also found the net on his Monaco debut, helping his new club to a 3-1 win over Le Havre in their Ligue 1 opener. Monaco took the lead thanks to an own goal from Le Havre defender Gautier Lloris before Dier doubled the advantage with a finish from Lamine Camara’s cross. Le Havre pulled one back through Rassoul Ndiaye, but Denis Zakaria set up Maghnes Akliouche to seal the win.
Lyon also started their campaign with a victory as Georges Mikautadze’s first-half stoppage-time goal secured a 1-0 win at Lens.
(Photo: S Mellar/FC Bayern)
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Controversial Goal Sparks Mallorca Outrage
Just six seconds had passed when Raíllo went down, but with no whistle blown, play continued. Ferran Torres took advantage, firing past the grounded defender while goalkeeper Leo Román stayed rooted—perhaps doubting he could reach it anyway. Pedri celebrated with Torres, but even the scorer seemed unsure if it would stand. It did.
Mallorca’s frustration grew as they fell further behind and were reduced to nine men. First, Manu Morlanes was sent off for a second yellow after fouling Lamine Yamal, who had dazzled with a brilliant run from midfield. Then, Vedat Muriqi’s yellow for a challenge on Marc-André ter Stegen was upgraded to red after VAR showed his studs making contact with the keeper’s face.
Despite being two men down, Mallorca held firm for a while. Lamine Yamal came close twice before finally scoring in the final minute. Barcelona had other chances—Raphinha shot wide, Dani Olmo hit the post, and Ronald Araújo volleyed off target—but the night belonged to Yamal.
(Reuters)
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FAQS
### **FAQs About Marcus Rashford’s Debut for Barcelona vs. Mallorca**
#### **Beginner Questions**
**1. Who is Marcus Rashford?**
Marcus Rashford is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward, known for his time at Manchester United and the England national team.
**2. Did Marcus Rashford really debut for Barcelona?**
No, Rashford has not played for Barcelona. This appears to be a hypothetical or mistaken scenario, as he has spent his entire club career at Manchester United.
**3. What was the result of Barcelona vs. Mallorca?**
The scenario suggests Barcelona won comfortably, with Mallorca finishing the match with only nine players.
**4. Why did Mallorca finish with nine players?**
They likely had two players sent off for serious fouls or misconduct during the match.
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#### **Advanced Questions**
**5. Has Marcus Rashford ever been linked with a move to Barcelona?**
There have been occasional rumors, but Rashford has consistently played for Manchester United and has never seriously been close to joining Barcelona.
**6. How common is it for a team to finish with nine players?**
It’s rare but happens occasionally, usually due to multiple red cards or injuries after all substitutions are used.
**7. What impact does playing with fewer players have on a team?**
Teams with fewer players struggle defensively, tire faster, and find it harder to create attacking opportunities.
**8. Could Rashford realistically play for Barcelona in the future?**
While possible, it’s unlikely unless he leaves Manchester United, which currently seems improbable given his strong ties to the club.
**9. How do red cards affect a team in future matches?**
Sent-off players usually face suspensions, meaning they miss upcoming games, weakening the squad.
**10. What are some famous matches where a team won despite having fewer players?**
Examples include Chelsea’s 2012 Champions League win over Barcelona and Manchester United’s 2003 win against Real Madrid.
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