Football Daily - Rashford shines for Barcelona & Haaland breaks more records

Episode Date: September 18, 2025

Mark Chapman has reaction as Barcelona beat Newcastle 2-1 and Manchester City had a 2-0 victory over Napoli in the Champions League. Former Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden, former Premier League striker Dion Dublin, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague and John Murray talk Marcus Rashford shining for Barcelona with two brilliant goals. Hear from manager Hansi Flick on Rashford and Eddie Howe on where Newcastle needed to be better. Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown watched Manchester City get the job done against 10 man Napoli on Kevin De Bruyne’s return, which was cut short due to a red card for captain Giovanni di Lorenzo. Plus Erling Haaland broke another record by becoming the quickest player to score 50 Champions League goals.Timecodes: 02:50 Rashford show 6:50 Selection issues for Newcastle? 10:45 Hansi Flick 13:00 Guillem on Rashford 18:20 Eddie Howe 25:45 Pep Guardiola 27:20 Haaland & more records brokenBBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Sat 20 Sep 1500 Brighton v Tottenham, Sat 20 Sep 1500 Wolves v Leeds on Sports Extra, Sat 20 Sep 1730 Man Utd v Chelsea, Sun 21 Sep 1400 Sunderland v Aston Villa, Sun 21 Sep 1400 Bournemouth v Newcastle on Sports Extra, Sun 21 Sep 1630 Arsenal v Man City.

On the Football Daily podcast, Champions League debrief with Mark Chapman. Hello, welcome to the Football Daily on a night when Manchester City beat 10-man Napoli 2-0 and at St James's Park, Barcelona beat Newcastle 2-1, both in the Champions League. Dionne and John Murray were at St. James's Park. We've also got former Newcastle midfielder, Isaac Hayden, with us as well. John, on the basis of the second half, you probably feel that Barcelona had more control of the game. Yeah, I often say to you, Mark,

don't I, on Five Live Sport? There's no substitute for experience. Barcelona have stacks of it. The team that Newcastle picked tonight had 100 previous Champions League appearances between them. Lewandowski, on his own, had 33 more than that.

But if you're Barcelona, you need stars. And the star tonight was the on-loan, Marcus Rashford, in front of Thomas Tuchel sitting here in the St. James' Park stands. It was Rashford who scored the two second half goals for Barcelona. The first set up by Cunde headed into the net from 12 yards and the second an absolute cracker from Rashford. That was vintage Rashford. He was substituted. He wasn't able to get a hat trick in the Champions League in the Newcastle Barcelona match like Faustino Asprea back in 1997. They almost coasted to victory

until that late goal from Anthony Gordon but Newcastle weren't able to create enough here tonight but as I say I feel that better opportunities will come in this Champions League phase for Newcastle to pick up

points than they had here against the Spanish champions it's not going to do Marcus Rashfitz chances of a regular starting place any harm is it that second half in particular Isaac he's going to have a battle on his hands because obviously they have Raphina and Lamin Yamal.

And in the first half, you kind of felt that maybe Kieran Trippia was getting the better of, getting the better of him. But he had a fantastic second half. Yeah, second half. That was the Marcus Ration of old, really. You know, the two goals were absolutely outstanding.

I mean, the header to be able to produce that power and the goal that he put on to put it in the corner was fantastic. And the second goal, Yeah, people will be watching that back over and over. And there was just moments after that second goal in particular. You could see that he was using with confidence. It was a lovely switch of play to put rough finger in, I think.

And, you know, that probably wouldn't have happened for him if he hadn't have got that boost from the goal. So, yeah, you could just see second half. It was almost a Marcus Rashford show. But I've got to be honest, Pedri and De Jong in the middle of the park controlled the game in the second half. And Newcastle just couldn't get near them. And I think Newcastle will be disappointed, especially on transition.

You know, a lot of the first passes were not getting to their targets and they were choosing the wrong decisions and turning the ball over too quickly, which gave Barcelona the impetus to transition and ultimately win the game. I know we talked, didn't we, Isaac, pre-match, about the strength of Newcastle's midfield. And I suppose this is the key to being an elite professional footballer. But De Jong and Pedri just make it,

They make it look effortless. Yeah, I mean, yeah, I mean, technically, you know, arguably two of the best in the world. I think physically, obviously, Newcastle's midfield three would overpower them. But as I said, football's not all about physicality. You know, we found that with the previous Barcelona teams, and it was Javille and Iniesta that were doing the same thing. So, as their technique in that middle area, the pitch is vital. And, you know, they just controlled the tempo of the game and, you know, slowed it down when they needed to, sped it up when they needed to

and ultimately Newcastle couldn't get near them but I do think that the transition or period the first passes that Newcaste had when they won the ball back just in the second half they weren't finding the passes and the rhythm so they were never going to be able to build up momentum in that second half. You know what? Sorry to But as we're talking about

midfield there about Deong and Pedri what they do so well is they just they allowed you know Gimmu Ache and Tanali and Jolinton to get so close and then they just popped it down the corner and got it again. That's just knowing full well that they're not physically going to overpower this Newcastle but we can pass around you you can't foul and say we'll just pass around you and keep the ball

they did make it look so easy I've got to give a shout out to Kunday I thought he was outstanding it right back tonight the and he put the cross in didn't he for Rashford's head which actually I wanted to ask I wanted to ask you about Dion because the second goal will get so much attention because I mean it's just a wonder strike, isn't it? It's such a clean, beautiful hit. Absolutely. But the first goal is it, it's just a really good header. I know in commentary you said it was too simple

for him with the way that shared dropped off, but it's still a great header. Yeah, it's a very good header. It's just, it makes it so much easier. You know, the cross comes at the right height. He's coming into an area where he's in the centre of the 18-yard box and he can go at any corner he wants to go into but he knows that the keeper's going to have to go to the near post because the cross is coming from the right so he just he just guides it past the keeper's right shoulder it's an easy header

but you've got to be able to get into those positions to make it look easy he worked hard tonight marcus rashford there wasn't quite a smile bit of a smirk but he worked hard he got his goals his second one was outstanding but he worked harder for the first you'd say easy header would you yeah I would yeah I say it was an easy header someone that has you know it's hard work scoring headers chappas

you got to put yourself in the right position yeah I know I'm just laughing at Isaac's reaction to do you think he was an easy header I'm trying to give him a bit more credit than that I think no I think I understand what the old is saying that I think because he was unchallenged you know there was no nudge in the back

or he wasn't having to airily challenge anyone so it was guiding it in, but I think the pace of the cross did make it a lot easier, but still to finish in the corner like that, you know, the quality of the locks is right, he made it look easy, yeah. He made it look easy.

Exactly. Made it look easy. Yeah, I think, give him a bit more credit. That's what we do. That's what we do. The second one? Just a, what?

Just a standard strike, was it? He couldn't have given him more credit. I know. I think, as I said, during the commentary, I mean this is a moot point really but I'm sure Newcastle fans in the pubs and the bars will be saying should Volta Marder have started this match

whether it would have made any difference or not I don't know Well it wouldn't have made any difference That's stungy Well it just came out of the blue a little bit Did that because I was in the middle of rush I think that's what Newcastle fans will be talking tonight You know they spent 69 million pound deal

On a new striker I guess that's what they'll be saying And I suppose if you're looking at look at the first half and the chances that fell to Barnes and Gordon. Isaac was spot on as well, looking back at the Gordon chance when he completely mishit it. Their centre-forward positions and I think Volta mater would have been there and he would have had a different mindset and he would have put one of those two in without a doubt.

Okay. What do you think, Isaac? Yeah, I think, you know, it's always easy on reflection to go, who should have started and who shouldn't have. but I do agree, you know, the two chances in the first half, those changed games and, you know, those two, one of those chances goes in, it's a completely different game in the second half. But I do think, especially in the second half, early on in the second half, just the balls that were going forward,

the transition, it was breaking down too easy. So even with Baltimore up there, it's not guaranteed that it's going to stick. So it's always that first pass that goes into the centre forward just wasn't there tonight. Do you think they were trying to force it a little bit in that second half with the ball between the lines? Yeah, you could see that they were trying to transition too quickly on some occasions. Sometimes it's about making one or two, three passes

before you make that move forward. I think with the goal, it was quite poignant really because it was the first time they really connected three or four passes, played it wide, and then, you know, Murph doing what he does best. You know, that first time cross was fantastic and, as said, a good finish from Gordon. But I think it came a little bit too late in the game.

They need to string a few more passes together early on and then build to go forwards. But they're playing a team tonight, Newcastle, in Barcelona that are, in terms of the development as a team, they're way ahead of Newcastle. You're talking about genuine contenders to win the Champions League this season. As I say, I expect Newcastle to go far in the competition, but Barcelona, you're thinking, well,

it's not a stretch of the imagination by any means to see them lifting the trophy in Budapest at the end of the season, is it? Well, that's pretty much here. Allegean from Euroleads on the back of what you've seen in that performance. Are they more or less likely to win the Champions League based on what you've seen? Well, I tell you what, Mark, what I've seen is in Barcelona that we hadn't seen this season anyway. Strong in both boxes, John Garcia intervened when he had to. On the front, they were efficient.

And the game management was absolutely fantastic. They looked around in the first 10, 15 minutes, with the noise, with the press. pressure of Newcastle players with the fact that they just couldn't get out of his own half thinking, okay, it's about defending with the ball. Can we do long passing sessions and make sure that we don't lose possession in the wrong places? Can we do that? And I think at the end of the first half, they started doing that and realizing that they couldn't do some of the things that they normally do. this is a in Spain is a high tempo you know strong pressure team but compared to the kind of tempo used by newcastle they're like all men walking around so they they couldn't match that they couldn't

match the physicality of newcastle and they they just put in practice another game when you do that when you're clever enough to do that and obviously when you're effective when you have the chance to score then that's a sign of a team that's matured compared to last season and last season and they made it to the semifinals. So, yeah, this is a team that can win the competition. Let's hear from Hansi Flick, shall we? Here are his thoughts after the game. This match, these two goals here in England

against Newcastle for Barcelona in the first Champions League match in this season. I think it's great. It's really great and gives him the confidence, believe in himself. And for me, this is the most important thing that he knows of UK and he show it also on the pitch today he's a fantastic player his skills are unbelievable it his finishing is

unbelievable and of course I said in a half-time I said to him please score two goals no it was not like that was not like that but it's I think also in the first half in the first half he tried to to create chances he had good good triplings and but the finishing was was at the end not not right and the second half was different so for a striker It's always good to score goals and to finish it. And I'm really happy that he was also in the box when the cross came in.

And yeah, for us, important player. So Deco and I, we spoke before the season what we need and we need a player like him. So happy have him here in Barcelona. You know, I spoke with him before, before everything goes on the right way. I said to him, I want you, I want you to have in my team and I'm really, I said, I'm happy because he's, for me, he's an outstanding player. For me, he's an outstanding player.

And I think also the team helps him a lot. And we control the match and the game and with Petrie, with all Frankie DeYoung, it's not easy to press us. So also gives the striker the opportunity to find the right spaces, maybe behind the, behind the, opponent's last line or in front and this is good he has this this strength that he can use it and this is for with his speed also with his control with the ball with dribblings and of course today with the finishing is unbelievable what do you think it does for rashford's stature within barcelona game there were doubts people were thinking you know some they haven't watched Aston Villa match in the last six months in Spain,

and they don't realize that he actually had turned a corner already. Mentally, physically, he started being more confident. He learned about the positional game that Barcelona play through Nyhemi, and the injury didn't allow him to perhaps pick. But in any case, Barcelona fans had not seen that. All they heard is about the time at Manchester United, where people seem to still celebrate, based on social media this is, the fact that he wasn't scoring, that he wasn't at his best at Barcelona,

that he hadn't shown the level that he's got. I don't know why Manchester United fans are rejoicing when he doesn't succeed because they still got to buy him. He's alone. But in any case, what Barcelona coaches had seen was a shy guy. It has been difficult to get through to him, as if he was somebody that has been heard and wouldn't open up very easily, that perhaps he didn't rebel if he didn't play

that's okay if he was substituted yeah that's fine didn't have that kind of I don't know to call it passion or whatever is that the Rafini is all Amin have

when you come off the year when you don't start the game but as Hansi Flick had said they've seen his quality and the interesting thing is that they see more even though he's been playing on the left-hand side

they see more as a nine so in a do they do they Yeah, and well, scored as a nine, both goals, no? One outside from the box, but from a central position and a header. And they seem there because, yeah, he shows flashes of his ability on the left-hand side with the ball. Without the ball, he tends to forget that he's got all the stuff to do,

and that's no good, because then that wing becomes very easy to attack. It's interesting that, isn't it, Dion, because, I mean, Nunei Emory occasionally used him through the middle, and sometimes Ollie Watkins was on the bench and Rashford went through the middle towards the end of last season and yet for quite a lot of the previous couple of years Rashford was adamant that he wasn't a nine.

Yeah, you know, I don't see him as a nine that I would consider an out-and-out nine. He could play there. I don't think he likes receiving the ball with his back to goal and somebody behind him. I don't think he's very effective when he's got to defend him right behind him. I think he likes the grass in front of him.

I think he likes to be able to take players on. If I was choosing between a nine and the left-hand side, I would say he's in between the two, but I'd put him down the left-hand side more than anything. But as a number nine, he could do a job, but I think you'd get more out of him playing down the left. Last week, Thomas Tuchel told us that he sees Marcus Rashford as playing on the left for England, for him.

Yeah, but you could have a different role at club level. Maybe I'm managerial material, by the way. you never know, do you? Well, have you just realized that this evening? Just tonight after what I just said. I know, yeah, absolutely. Switch it back to Newcastle here, Isaac. What would be the positives, and we haven't heard for a year,

what would be the positives that Eddie Howe might take out of tonight? I think they stayed in the game, especially in the second half. I know it looked at if they were out of it, As soon as they got the goal, obviously the crowd got up and they were never completely out of the game. It wasn't a route. It was, I know it was 2-0 and Barcelona were fairly comfortable. But even the last 10 minutes, they kept going, they kept pushing. And as I said, Barcelona, one of the favourites to win the competition.

So it was always going to be a tough game first up and they'll certainly have easier games than this going forwards. But I think, yeah, I think they kept going. and they kept plugging away and as said it didn't turn into a route so that was the main positives really do you think as John threw in there there will be debates about why Voldemarter didn't start

yeah of course whenever you spent a club record feel on a striker I think supporters will always be asking the questions as to why they haven't started in such a big game like this but I think you have to trust the manager he sees the players day and

out. You know, nobody knows the ins and outs of how he was feeling after the Wolves game at the weekend. As we said before, I think he came out and said that he felt the effects physically of the Premier League's first game of high intensity for him. And, you know, he might be filling the effects of that. So we don't know that. But, you know, I think the tactics you know, were clear, especially first half, first 10, 15 minutes. It was electric, you know, pressing from the front. And, you know, like I said before, the pressing tactics that Eddie likes to have, maybe weren't suited to Voldemada today to start.

And obviously the plan was probably to bring him on for the last half an hour, but I think the game was tailing away at that point. Let's hear from Eddie Howe. I think a lot of effort, a lot of commitment, a lot of heart from the players. I thought it was a good performance without being a great one. To beat Barcelona,

I think it needs to be a great one. And yeah, we had the chances. Two big moments in that first half we didn't take. And ultimately, when you can see the first goal, the game swings on that moment. We obviously tried to make it difficult for Barcelona to settle into the game. We wanted to try and regain the ball high if they played out from the back. I thought we had good success with that.

I was pretty pleased. We knew there'd be phases also in the game. We would have to defend a little bit lower. We would have to be good in defending space and relatively pleased with that as well until the first goal, really. The first goal is a big moment. We don't mark, firstly, we don't stop the cross and then we don't mark well enough in the box and we concede. I think when you're chasing the game against them,

that becomes very difficult because they can exploit gaps that maybe you wouldn't have left previously. So that was probably the most challenging part of the game for us. This game was always going to be talked about and always going to be an exciting one for our supporters. And I thought they were brilliant for us tonight. Just so disappointed, we couldn't get that first goal because I think that would have taken us to another level.

But the effort and endeavor was there from the players. There was no lacking in terms of heart and courage, as I said. And yeah, look, we could be critical of a couple of things that we could have done better. But ultimately, we're, you know we'll analyze it and try and improve and try and grow from this experience this is as we constantly keep talking about John this is a this is a very different champions champions league now and you can you can have a slightly if he start and still

rescue yourself when it gets into December I was thinking exactly that when I was following the Chelsea match last night you know they start off with a defeat but there's plenty of time to to turn it around you'd agree Isaac would you yeah of course I mean it's so early in his Newcastle career I mean it's like we just said there and Arna Slott

was saying about he's signed for six years so it's not like he's got him for a couple of weeks so you know there's there's so much time for him the more training that he gets especially with the group

because he's massive on on the training pitch and putting time in there so you know the longer he has with Eddie on the training pitch and the staff there the better he'll be and you know

I'm sure he's going to be a great player for Newcastle. Which is, of course, one of the shortcomings of the extended league phase. The fact that there is enough time to turn things around. If this was been the group of four and you'd lost at home in your first match, then, you know, the pressure's on. Yes, although you'd have lost at home, not I'm trying to argue with you, but you'd have lost at home to the strongest team in the group, though, wouldn't you? Yeah, you would, but nevertheless, the pressure would have been on.

The final thing that you would say, Dion, before we say bye, is what I suppose it has shown is that Newcastle, and they'll need Wissar back as well here, weren't they? Because maybe that front three of Barnes and Elanger and Gordon, whilst possessing a great deal of pace and trickery, might not deliver as many goals. Yeah, maybe, maybe. I think, yeah, going off tonight's few chances. Maybe. I think what I'll take from this game for Newcastle is Newcastle can mix it with the best. They can mix it with the best on the big stage. They had their moments tonight when they could have gone ahead and it would have been a very different game as Isaacs mentioned as well.

So that's the only thing I think they were missing tonight, just that little cutting edge. I mean, Barser took charge of the game for at least 70% of it, 75% of it, just showed their class and their patience. but they could have been a goal behind if Newcastle were a little bit more ruthless and I'll say it again do not waste chances against the big teams because you will unfortunately lose the game thank you both Dion and John

Marcus Rashford has said to television this evening I'm enjoying it all I think it's making me a better player it's an amazing experience obviously most people my age have watched Barcelona growing up so it's an amazing experience to be part of this team and we obviously want to win all the time. You know, Guillem, when you said that some people at

Barcelona have found him a bit difficult to get through to, that's not saying he's being difficult. I mean, I just think he's probably quite shy and trying to settle in, isn't he? 100%. And I was looking off to see him

at close quarters while I was doing the book with Aston Villa last year. And he was exactly the same, but there are coaches that at Aston Villa like every other big club. where they work, the individual, and they try to get to the player through the head. They just joke with them, and if there is no joke back, that's not the way. They will try to just give them information, whatever it is, to get through the player.

And they reckon that Rashford was the most difficult play in terms of getting through to him until one day, boom, he clicked because something they did in training. It happened during the game. He came back and said, that thing that you said, can you give me some more of that? And then that's it. Then they got him. So, okay, it was through football that they got him. He doesn't want to be friends with anyone in particular.

He obviously is closer to the contingent of Barcelona speaks English. But it speaks through his feet, his football, his training, and he trains very, very well. And whenever he's got to play through whatever he does on the pitch. So difficult, not at all, not at all. But it was interesting is that, of course, the likes of Lamine has had, Rushford for many years in the PlayStation and he when he found out that Rushford could be a possibility he went and sent a message to the director of football saying bring him on bring him bring him get him get him here because not just him but the rest of the kids that are there and really is

like a like a like a school little you know everybody's a teenager there had Rushford as a superstar and perhaps they didn't fully understand what had happened at Manchester United and not many people talk about it what they see is a guy that has got a lot of potential and given the right conditions he will shine. On the Football Daily podcast

Champions League debrief with Mark Chapman The Women's Football Weekly has found a new home in its very own feed. We've called it unsurprisingly BBC Women's Football Weekly We'll continue to bring you the latest news, insights and analysis

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and hit subscribe once you get there. On the Football Daily podcast, Champions League debrief with Mark Chapman. Let's touch on Manchester City's winner of Napoli this evening in the other Champions League games on the men side of things to involve an English side. Erling Harland and Jeremy Docku

getting the goals as City beat 10-man Napoli 2-0 and we can hear from Pep Guardiola. Every pass was in tension every moment was in tension and they are really, really pleased because I know exactly perfectly how is Napoli

and especially Antonio that his teams is always they are really, really tough to beat and I know perfectly for my past. Of course you have one more men in the middle feel in that position is incredible. It's quite similar movement that Jeremy has done with Erling against second goal, against the United.

And after Jeremy in that position, one against one against Central Defenders. In the five meters, he's the fastest player. It's unstoppable. Long distances, maybe suffer a lot for his genetic. But in his smaller spaces, they want to, how fast it is, always I encourage him to go, to go, to prove it, to take it.

make an incredible finishing at the end. Michael Brown was at this game for us on Sports Extra. It's been a very good week so far then for City. You know, if they go to the Emiris and get a result, that's a fantastic week for them, isn't it? It'll be a huge week if that comes off, Chappas. But, you know, you look at Pep Guardiola's choice of team today. He very much was on this game, not looking at the weekend.

He was able to make those changes later on when the job was done because of 10 men, Napoli, but they really played well. Move the ball around. They were patient, but the recovery runs, limited space. Turnovers are so important to the manager because defensively, they have been a little bit of weakness there. So a real positive, that's two good results, and now a huge game at the weekend.

And some real positives, Jeremy Docko, looking excellent and wider positions running forward. His goal was fantastic as he stepped inside and completely gone past people. Phil Foden, I mean, we missed him last season. and the year before, he was incredible. So man of the match performance, he had a wonderful assist to Erling.

He had a couple of opportunities where he managed to get shots away and to get into good positions. So, yeah, a real positive night for Pep Guardiola. You kind of run out of things to say with Harlan, don't you? Now, I mean, 50 Champions League goals in 49 appearances. It's not bad, is it? Do you know, he was limited for opportunities

because Nepali's defensive line was quite strong. and ironically, Conte made a decision because Pilatino got a yellow card. He decided to put a back three in and within a minute, Phil Ford and just flicked the ball inside. And a lot of players would have just headed that into the ground.

He just looped it, didn't rush it, had a look, or he's aware of those situations and just lobbed it over, Malenkovich Savage, who was excellent on the night. So wonderful return. He just keeps better and better. And what he did as well is it was his run that they left a 1v1

and then a slide pass in behind. De Lorenzo, he'd got the ball but when Erling's coming you make rash decisions you maybe shouldn't do and that was the difference with the red card referee went to the monitor overturned it because of the threat of Harland so yeah he's

set an example a wonderful return records are there for all to see and he seems like he's in the rhythm and enjoying scoring goals 12 goals now Isaac in just a little under seven games for club and country and I always feel like you have to put the caveat in five

of those are against Moldova but you're not really putting that in, they still count, you know? Yeah, of course, as well, international football. I know there's a lot of discussion about it, but you know, you still have to put the ball in the back of the net, and it's the hardest job in football at the end of the day is scoring goals, and, you know, for his age,

it seems to have been doing it for years and years now. But, I mean, even last year, you know, people were saying it wasn't his best season, but he still scored a hell of a lot of goals. And I said, if you can carry on the first, form that you're shown this early part of the season, then it's going to be another big season for him. Good to have you with us this evening and Isaac.

Thank you very much. We'll see you soon. Thank you. I appreciate it. Cheers. Isaac Hayden with us on Five Live Sport. Thank you, Brownie. See you soon.

As well, Michael Brown at the Etihad where Manchester, you beat in Napoli by two goals to nil. That's it from today's football daily. The next one available to download will be the commentators for you. You know,