Match Overview
Marcus Rashford found himself on the sidelines during Barcelona’s comfortable 3-0 victory against Getafe in LaLiga this past Sunday. This came after an impressive performance where he scored two goals against Newcastle United in the Champions League earlier in the week.
Rashford’s Absence
Although there were suggestions that his absence from the starting lineup was due to arriving late for the pre-match activation session, a source confirmed his lateness was only minor and did not definitively state it was the reason for his benching. Head coach Hansi Flick addressed the situation, suggesting that the decision to rest Rashford was part of a broader strategy to ensure player freshness due to their hectic schedule.
“It’s quite normal to manage players’ minutes, especially with matches every few days,”
he explained.
Flick’s strict approach to punctuality is well-documented, having previously benched Raphinha for a similar infraction. Other players like Jules Koundé and Iñaki Peña have also faced consequences for not adhering to team rules regarding attendance. Despite the minor tardiness, it seems not to have caused any significant issues for Rashford.
Impact of Rashford
Coming off the bench at halftime, Rashford made an immediate impact by providing an assist for Dani Olmo’s goal, which capped off the victory in challenging weather conditions. Earlier in the match, Ferran Torres had already netted two goals, increasing his season’s tally to four in LaLiga.
Post-Match Reactions
In his assessment, Flick expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance:
“Three points, three-zero, it’s alright. We maintained control throughout the match.”
He acknowledged the difficulty of breaking down a resilient Getafe side, noting that the game did have moments where it felt precarious.
Post-match comments from Torres highlighted his frustration with Getafe’s playing style, suggesting they seldom engaged and resorted instead to committing fouls. This drew a sharp retort from Getafe’s coach José Bordalás, who dismissed the notion as overly simplistic, emphasizing the significant financial disparity between the two clubs.
Injury Concerns
While celebrating the win, Barcelona faced a slight setback with Fermín López suffering a late injury, prompting Flick to announce he would undergo evaluation to ascertain the extent of the issue. There is hope for López’s fitness ahead of their upcoming match against Real Oviedo, along with the return of Lamine Yamal, who has missed the last three fixtures.
Current Standings
With this latest win, Barcelona maintains an unbeaten record in LaLiga, accumulating 13 points from five matches – just two behind leaders Real Madrid.
