Jul 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; FC Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele (7) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first half against Real Madrid at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

FC Barcelona Wins First Champions League Game

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Stefania Zajdel | Last updated Sep 19, 2025 1:47 PM ET

Last season, FC Barcelona’s Champions League campaign ended with a heartbreaking defeat against Inter Milan. Now, a year later, they returned to the competition to prove that they are back to their former glory. The first team that got to face Hansi Flick’s new and improved creation was English Newcastle United.

An Underwhelming Beginning

The first 45 minutes of the match between Barcelona and Newcastle were less-than-exciting. Soon after the game began, the English team began pressing the Catalan giants, forcing them to stay on their own half and defend rather than attack. Despite their best efforts, no attempt was good enough to result in a change in the score.

The sentence could be used to describe the entirety of the first half. Both Barcelona and Newcastle had a few great chances, but neither could convert any of them into a goal. Time slipped through their fingers, and before the game could get interesting, the players left the field and marched toward the dressing rooms.

Rashford’s Incredible Evening

The first break in the game came in the 58th minute. It was then that Marcus Rashford’s header put Barcelona in the lead. His first goal for Blaugrana came just when the team needed it most. It sent a message to Newcastle’s fans gathered at their home stadium: when you play against Barca, it’s not over until the final whistle.

Invigorated by his impressive goal, Rashford pushed on even harder than before. Only a few minutes after becoming the hero of the match, he scored for a second time. The action was even more impressive than the first. He took possession of the ball, maneuvered around Newcastle’s defenders, found the perfect position, and put it in the net. There was nothing Nick Pope could do as the ball soared past him.

Last Minute Surprise

Just when it seemed like the fate of the game was already decided, in the 90th minute of the game, Newcastle scored the coveted contact goal. Anthony Gordon was the player to breathe hope back into the hearts of English fans. Thanks to his efforts, and with the seven minutes added to the regular time, despite what it had seemed like, the match was far from over.

Jul 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; FC Barcelona fan holds up a scarf before the match against Real Madrid at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Newcastle did everything they could to equalize the score before the time ran out. They had a few good chances and even a shot on target, but ultimately came just short of scoring the deciding goal. The game ended at 2-1, with Barcelona being the team to take the three points home.

End Of My Barcelona Rant

While it wasn’t Blaugrana’s best game, it did give them the coveted win. After the first matchdays, they are one of 14 teams that have added three points to their tally. Newcastle, on the other hand, fell to the bottom half of the table.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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