Canadian soccer forward in elite European football
Marcus Rashford starts a Premier League game for Manchester United after 20 months away, scoring 30 goals in 2022-23 and returning amid doubt. Maguire says Rashford is back, hungry, and a major asset as United beat Ipswich 5-2. Carrick and others note Rashford’s improved fitness and leadership as the season starts.
Atletico Madrid has lost 3-0 to Athletic Bilbao in La Liga and faces a challenging Champions League opener at Liverpool. Simeone cites a mixture of injuries, late arrivals and Alvarez transfer speculation as hampering preparations, while Jonathan David has joined on loan. The team seeks a sharp response in a challenging week.
Barcelona beats Levante 3-2 to stay atop La Liga after a gripping clash that saw Levante rally from two goals down before Karim Adeyemi sealed the win in second-half stoppage time. Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal struck early, and Barcelona’s defense held firm late on.
Manchester United's defender Lisandro Martinez has criticized the club's transfer strategy after a 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid, calling for greater investment and backing of the technical director. The post-match comments come as United endure a winless run and face pressure on manager Michael Carrick, with questions raised over squad depth and tactical choices.
Bayer Leverkusen has secured a third consecutive Europa League win, beating OFI Crete 2-0 with a Jonas Hofmann double. Juventus is held to a 2-2 draw by Rennes after a late winner is ruled out by VAR. Sunderland’s draw in Poland accompanies a busy night of European action.