Rashford's Rocky Barcelona Start: Hooked at Half-Time in Comeback Victory

Marcus Rashford's first start for Barcelona took an unexpected turn as manager Hansi Flick withdrew the Manchester United loanee at halftime during Thursday's preseason clash against Levante. The Catalan club found themselves trailing 2-0 at the break, prompting swift tactical changes that ultimately sparked a 3-2 victory.

Debut Dilemma

The 26-year-old English international, who made a promising 20-minute substitute appearance in Barcelona's 3-0 win over Mallorca earlier this week, struggled to impact the game during his 45-minute outing. Flick replaced Rashford and Marc Casado with Dani Olmo and Gavi at halftime, a decision that proved pivotal as Barcelona mounted an immediate comeback.

Second-Half Resurgence

Pedri ignited the revival with a spectacular long-range strike in the 49th minute, followed three minutes later by Ferran Torres' clinical volley from a corner. The dramatic winner came deep into stoppage time when teenage sensation Lamine Yamal's cross forced Levante defender Unai Elgezabal into an own goal.

Fan Frustration and Manager's Perspective

Social media erupted with criticism directed at Rashford's performance, with supporters suggesting the forward carried over struggles from his Manchester United career. "Rashford's playing like he's still at Old Trafford - all effort, no tactical awareness," commented one fan, while another remarked: "You can take the player out of United, but not the United out of the player."

Despite the early substitution, Flick defended his new acquisition: "Marcus created several opportunities and demonstrated his potential value. The changes were purely tactical - we needed Raphinha's width in the second half. That first goal after halftime completely shifted the momentum."

As Barcelona prepare for their La Liga campaign, all eyes remain on how the former Premier League star will adapt to his temporary Spanish home following this mixed debut showing.