"Barcelona already know how much they've come to rely on Raphinha's intensity and leadership. His absence was deeply felt at the beginning of the season as Barcelona struggled to reach their best form. The Brazilian won't be out for long, but every match in La Liga matters in a tight title race against Real Madrid, so all eyes were on the front line against Mallorca to see if they could get the job done."
"One thing we have come to learn about Rashford during his time at Barcelona is that, although he's fast, his speed isn't his greatest asset on the pitch. You have seen moments of him getting behind backlines, but it's not where he's made the biggest impact. Where he's really been effective is sitting in wide areas, staying part of the build up, and using his technical abilities around the box to play in dangerous passes."
"Barcelona did not look good from the start. The energy was low, and the team looked like there were destined to receive a wake up call from none other than Jan Virgili, an academy player they let walk over the summer. This was the type of game where Raphinha would have been very useful. If only..."
Barcelona leaned heavily on Raphinha's intensity and leadership, and his absence left the team low on energy and struggling to reach peak form. The match against Mallorca highlighted that vulnerability, with Jan Virgili, an academy player released over the summer, providing a wake-up call. Marcus Rashford stood out through persistent one-v-one attempts, wide positioning in the build-up, technical deliveries around the box, and powerful cut-ins. Rashford has also become the de facto set-piece taker and has carved out a clear niche, suggesting he should be deployed as a leading protagonist moving forward in a tight title race.
Read at Barca Blaugranes
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