Marcus Rashford leads the way to victory for Barcelona in Raphinha’s absence

Palma—With Raphinha sidelined, Barcelona’s early-season lethargy threatened to resurface at Son Moix, but Marcus Rashford refused to let the champions drift. From the opening whistle the English forward attacked defenders in isolation, repeatedly destabilising a compact Mallorca back line and freeing space for a closely watched Lamine Yamal on the opposite flank.

The breakthrough, when it arrived, was less about blistering pace than raw conviction. Drifting into the left channel, Rashford collected, cut inside and hammered a low drive beyond the goalkeeper, igniting the contest and settling nerves in the Barça camp. It was the kind of authoritative moment the squad has grown accustomed to seeing from the absent Brazilian, and it underlined why Rashford has quickly become the club’s dead-ball specialist and a central figure in build-up play.

Rashford’s influence did not end with the opener. He continued to drop into wide pockets, combine through tight triangles and whip in the set-piece deliveries that have already borne fruit this term—most notably the corner for Ronald Araújo in midweek and a memorable free-kick against Elche earlier in the campaign.

By full-time the 26-year-old had done enough to earn man-of-the-match honours, even as Yamal’s late wonder strike sealed the 2-0 win and kept Barcelona level with Real Madrid in an increasingly tight title race. The result offered a glimpse of a new attacking hierarchy: Rashford as protagonist, not passenger.

Barcelona now face a delicate decision. Raphinha’s intensity remains integral, yet Rashford’s seamless adaptation to La Liga’s tactical demands has given the coaching staff a welcome selection headache. Sunday’s evidence suggests the former Manchester United star is ready to embrace the responsibility that comes with leading the line for one of Europe’s heavyweights.

With the season entering its decisive stretch, the Catalans will hope the Englishman’s assertive display against Mallorca is a harbinger of further match-defining contributions when the pressure peaks.