Marcus Rashford is relishing his first El Clasico against Real Madrid and says playing in that level of match is ‘why I got here’ to Barcelona.
Rashford’s impressive form since his loan move to Barca continued on Tuesday as he scored twice within the 6-1 Champions League win over Olympiakos.
The 27-year-old has now scored five goals and made 4 assists since joining Barcelona on loan from Manchester United.
Rashford will get his first taste of El Clasico this weekend when Barcelona travel to the Bernabeu to face La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
Hansi Flick’s side visit Madrid knowing they’ll claim top spot from their arch-rivals in the event that they manage to return to Barca with the three points.
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‘The match against Real Madrid is vital and certainly one of the explanations I got here here,’ Rashford said after Barcelona thrashed Olympiakos. ‘I’m looking forward to it.’
Rashford had stagnated at boyhood club Manchester United and located himself out of the team under Old Trafford boss Ruben Amorim.
Amorim sanctioned Rashford’s loan move to Aston Villa last season and included the England star in his summer ‘bomb squad’.
As a part of the loan deal, Manchester United agreed to sell Rashford to Barcelona on a everlasting transfer next summer for around £30m.
Speaking after the emphatic victory over Olympiakos, Rashford said: ‘It is a excellent team to enjoy your football in.
‘I’m pleased with the performance today, especially within the second half. Regardless that it was obviously difficult for them with ten men, we used the spaces higher and our timing was higher.
‘I feel in the primary half we were also excellent however the second half we were quicker. Hansi Flick is a really demanding coach of us and intensity is certainly one of his essential themes.
‘Not only that, but he wants us to point out the intent to go for increasingly goals. Sometimes it’s difficult to interrupt opponents down, but now we have so many goalscoring players in several areas that getting goals is the least of our worries.’
Asked the way it is playing alongside young superstars Lamine Yamal and Pedri, a grinning Rashford added: ‘Each are terrific on the ball. But keep in mind that other teams know that too!
‘So, for me, the timing I even have to point out is vital. I’m learning. I attempt to improve how I work with these guys and am attempting to get in the correct areas to help or rating goals due to them.’
Yamal was also on the scoresheet against Olympiakos, while Fermin Lopez scored a hat-trick to send Barcelona into the top-half of the Champions League table.
Barcelona lost their last Champions League game to holders PSG but bounced back well against Greek side Olympiakos.
‘I all the time think positively,’ Barca boss Flick said. ‘We’re capable of go and win in Madrid now, now we have team.
‘Possibly we get two players back for the weekend but importantly now we have this huge victory now, over Olympiacos, which brings us confidence.’
While Barcelona thrashed Olympiakos last outing, Real Madrid ().
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