Coach Hans Flick decided to position the 28-year-old Marcus Rashford as the left winger to compensate for Raphinha's absence in the match against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium, where he scored the crucial equalizer before the end of the first half.

Rashford delivered a comprehensive performance, participating in 51 interventions, creating three chances for his teammates, completing 30 out of 33 passes, taking two shots on goal, and making two defensive ball recoveries, reflecting his significant impact on the team, according to the Spanish newspaper 'Mundo Deportivo.'

His goal against Atletico Madrid was important not only for the draw but also because it represented Barcelona's 300th goal under Flick's era, highlighting Rashford's importance in the results this season, with the team's total goals reaching 127 so far in the 2025/2026 season following Robert Lewandowski's latest goal.

This match is an opportunity for Rashford to prove his worth for a permanent move to Barcelona, as the club is monitoring his performance at the end of the season to decide on activating the purchase clause for 30 million euros from Manchester United, and it is expected that his continued scoring of crucial goals will ensure his stay with the team.

Thanks to this performance, Rashford is expected to be a starter on the left wing during the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, having scored 11 goals and provided 11 assists this season, reflecting the success of relying on him as a primary option and delighting coach Flick.