Barcelona continued their impressive knack for making memorable comebacks by securing a 3-2 win over Levante on Saturday.
The Catalans came back from a 2-0 deficit at half-time to complete a 3-2 victory, thanks to a splendid second-half display.
Rashford’s link up play with Balde shines
One of the most striking positives from the game was Rashford’s budding partnership with Alejandro Balde, reports Diario SPORT.
The two combined seamlessly on the left flank, creating overloads and opening space for Barça’s attacking thrusts.
Normally, Balde is tasked with providing width, especially when paired with an inverted winger.
But Rashford’s direct approach on the touchline allowed Balde to cut inside more often, destabilising Levante’s defence.
This dynamic mirrored some of Balde’s most memorable slaloms from previous seasons – runs through central channels rather than hugging the line – with Rashford’s positioning freeing him to take those risks.
In his 45 minutes on the pitch, Rashford touched the ball 41 times, completed 30 passes without error, and successfully dribbled past his man twice in five attempts.
He also nearly scored with a darting solo run, forcing a crucial stop from the Levante goalkeeper.
After the match, Flick acknowledged Rashford’s contribution: “Marcus showed in the first half what he can bring to the team. He still has to keep going, but he can help us a lot this season.”
Keeping Rashford’s combination play with Balde in mind, it will be interesting to see how Flick plans to utilise the Englishman in the coming matches.
It is quite possible that Rashford could be considered a super sub as he can add energy and zest to the Barcelona attack, especially when the opposition is defending in a low block.
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