Overview
- Introduced with roughly 18 to 20 minutes left, Marcus Rashford bent an 85th‑minute direct free‑kick past Dominik Kotarski to complete Barcelona’s 4-1 comeback over FC Copenhagen.
- The goal was Barcelona’s first direct free‑kick in the Champions League since Lionel Messi scored in May 2019, ending a run widely reported as about 50 unsuccessful attempts.
- The victory secured direct qualification to the round of 16 without a play‑off, with potential opponents including Paris Saint‑Germain, Newcastle United, Monaco or Qarabag.
- Rashford’s strike was his fifth of this Champions League campaign, making him Barcelona’s joint top scorer in the competition alongside Fermín López.
- On loan from Manchester United with a purchase option, Rashford drew praise from Hansi Flick, who lauded his impact and noted the forward’s ongoing adaptation to Barcelona’s pressing style.