Spanish media make their feelings on Marcus Rashford clear after early 'miss of the season' for Barcelona

Spanish media have made their feelings clear on Marcus Rashford after he played the first half of Barcelona's 5-0 win over Como on Sunday night.

The 27-year-old was once again deployed as a striker in the absence of Robert Lewandowski at Camp Nou.

He lined up alongside Lamine Yamal and Raphinha for the annual Joan Gamper Trophy fixture, which Barca dominated.

Hansi Flick's side were 4-0 up by half-time, with Chelsea-linked midfielder Fermin Lopez netting twice.

Rashford didn't get on the scoresheet himself, but did set up Raphinha for Barca's third goal of the night.

He was then replaced for the second half by Ferran Torres, who assisted Yamal for his side's fifth goal.

In first-half injury time, Rashford missed a golden opportunity to score when he rounded goalkeeper Jean Butez before somehow managing to slot the ball wide, in what is already being described as an early miss of the season contender.

Spanish media rate Rashford's Barcelona display

Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo claimed that 'it is clear he [Rashford] is not a natural number nine' after his miss from close range - despite him often playing there for Manchester United.

AS, meanwhile, were even more scathing, describing his 45-minute stint as a 'strange performance', adding that there were 'some notable errors in execution, especially in his attempt to provide continuity in the play with his back to goal'.

COPE, however, decided not to focus on his miss but instead on the timing of his runs towards goal, noting that he was, at one point, 'at full speed and racing down the right flank'.

They put his miss down to 'perhaps overconfidence', while Marca simply described it as a 'minor sin in a friendly'.

It appears as if Rashford will continue playing as a central striker.

Before the match, AS reported that Lewandowski's ongoing problem, which has seen him miss the last two friendlies, is a muscle injury to his hamstring, meaning he could be out until after the international break in September.

Barca have away La Liga fixtures against Mallorca, Levante and Rayo Vallecano before the end of August, with Rashford potentially lining up from the start for all three of them.