While Marcus Rashford didn’t get on the scoresheet, his influence was undeniable as he helped spark what nearly became one of the most memorable Champions League comebacks in recent years.
Aston Villa, trailing Paris Saint-Germain, drew inspiration from Rashford’s second-half performance, which shifted the game’s momentum dramatically.
In the first half, the England international had a relatively quiet presence, with PSG comfortably leading 2-0 after just 27 minutes and 5-1 on aggregate. It seemed the French side was on course for a comfortable victory.
However, Rashford came alive after the break, relentlessly attacking the PSG defence and playing a key role in Villa’s spirited comeback. The Premier League side surged ahead 3-2 on the night and came within a goal of leveling the tie, falling just short of completing an extraordinary turnaround.
Although Villa couldn’t find the all-important fourth goal, Rashford—currently on loan from Manchester United amid uncertainty surrounding his future—delivered a reminder of his capabilities against one of the Champions League’s most formidable sides. His energy and flair earned widespread praise.
Villa manager Unai Emery was full of admiration, telling Amazon Prime, “He is feeling better and he played a fantastic match. We are very happy. If he is happy, we are happy.”
Since his January arrival, Rashford’s form has steadily improved, and this outing was arguably his standout performance in a Villa shirt. His assist for Villa’s third goal was a display of pure class—he nutmegged one defender, danced past another in the box, and delivered a perfect cutback for Ezri Konsa to convert.
That assist marked Rashford’s fifth for the club, making him the joint-highest assist provider in the Premier League since his debut for Villa.
Fans were reminded of Rashford’s previous heroics against PSG—his dramatic last-minute penalty for Manchester United in 2019 that knocked them out of the Champions League. He nearly repeated the feat this time, only to be denied by a superb Gianluigi Donnarumma save.
BBC Radio 5 Live pundit and former Villa striker Dion Dublin hailed Rashford’s impact, saying, “Marcus Rashford didn’t score, but the energy levels that he had… he was making those defenders make mistakes. For me, he was man of the match for Villa.”
Rashford’s performance was backed up by impressive stats—he recorded the most touches in the opposition box (12), created the most chances (four), and delivered the most crosses (nine) of any player on the pitch.
Former Villa full-back Stephen Warnock echoed the praise, describing Rashford as “brilliant” on BBC Radio 5 Live. Similarly, ex-Liverpool striker and two-time Champions League winner Daniel Sturridge credited the display as proof that doubts about Rashford were misplaced. “The narrative before he came here was that he’s not the same player any more,” Sturridge said on Amazon Prime.
“That was the narrative. He’s proven everyone wrong. He has come here and shown everybody this is who I am, and this is how I play. This is what I can bring to the table.”
Unai Emery, who has transformed Villa from relegation fighters to Champions League contenders since taking over in October 2022, was criticized for one particular decision. His choice to substitute Rashford for Ollie Watkins in the 76th minute appeared to disrupt Villa’s rhythm and was questioned by pundits.
“I don’t know what Unai Emery saw, with the way Marcus Rashford was playing, he got it wrong,” Warnock added. “It felt like the tempo dropped when he made that substitution. You need a goal – why are you taking a striker off?”
Rashford’s loan deal includes a £40 million option to buy, and with the season nearing its end, both the player and Villa face a major decision. Emery, however, confirmed that no final call has been made, saying, “It depends on the circumstances for now and the next weeks.”
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