Spanish Media React as Marcus Rashford Blow Causes Barcelona Huge Problems
Barcelona's form has nosedived dramatically in the absence of Marcus Rashford, with the club suffering a second consecutive defeat that has sparked a media firestorm in Spain. The Manchester United loanee missed another crucial match, leaving a gaping hole in the team's attack as they faltered against local rivals.
Rashford's Absence Felt in Girona Defeat
Marcus Rashford was ruled out of Barcelona's 2-1 loss to Girona due to a knee injury, compounding the woes from last week's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg defeat to Atletico Madrid. This injury represents a significant setback for both the player and the club, especially as Rashford had been enjoying the finest form of his loan spell. Although the injury is not considered severe, it has undoubtedly halted his momentum at a critical juncture, as he aims to persuade Barcelona to make his transfer from Manchester United permanent this summer.
Without Rashford, Barcelona have struggled immensely, suffering a 4-0 thrashing at Atletico Madrid before the unexpected loss to Girona. Missed opportunities in the first half, including Lamine Yamal striking the post from the penalty spot, proved costly. Pau Cubarsi put Barcelona ahead just before the hour mark, but a lacklustre second-half performance from the visitors saw them pegged back by a Thomas Lemar equaliser shortly afterwards.
Media Backlash and Tactical Criticism
Spanish media pulled no punches following the match, with MARCA proclaiming a full-blown "crisis that could leave them empty-handed this season," while SPORT said "everything fell apart in a chaotic second half." Fran Beltran then netted a contentious winner on 86 minutes, awarded after a VAR review, despite Barcelona claiming a foul in the build-up. The result saw Hansi Flick's team lose their top spot in the La Liga table to Real Madrid.
While it's evident Barcelona have struggled for goals in recent games, potentially down to Rashford's absence, Flick's tactics and the defence have attracted the harshest criticism. Commentator Manolo Lama said they "defend terribly" and that Flick had "gone mad" tactically. He also suggested that Barcelona deployed a "4-1-5 formation" against Girona with "five forwards that neither pressed nor won the ball back nor helped the defenders."
Raphinha's Return Offers Glimmer of Hope
Among the few positives was one of Rashford's competitors for a starting spot, Raphinha, who returned from injury. Barca Universal, awarding him a 7/10 rating, said: "The Brazilian was on full throttle, pressing high out of possession and going for goal whenever presented with a chance in attack. Came close to scoring on a couple of occasions in the first period but could not capitalise." Given his recent spell on the sidelines, Raphinha was taken off after 60 minutes. Football Espana noted it was "no coincidence that his exit coincided with Girona growing in the game."
Rashford will be hoping to feature when Barcelona welcome Levante on Sunday, though Raphinha's display against Girona might mean he has to accept a place among the substitutes. This situation adds another layer of complexity to Barcelona's ongoing challenges, as they navigate injuries, tactical dilemmas, and intense media scrutiny in a season that risks unraveling without key players like Rashford.
