Marcus Rashford made his long-awaited return to the UEFA Champions League on March 4, 2025, playing a key role in Aston Villa’s 3-1 win over Club Brugge in the first leg of their round-of-16 match.
Although Rashford didn’t score, he impressed in the first half with his pace and skill on the wing. In the 10th minute, he had a great opportunity to double Villa’s lead after Leon Bailey’s early goal, but his shot from a tight angle was blocked by Brugge’s goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet. Rashford was substituted in the 64th minute for Marco Asensio.
This match marked Rashford’s first Champions League appearance since November 2023, when he was sent off for Manchester United against FC Copenhagen. The 27-year-old forward, who joined Aston Villa on loan in February, had been sidelined by United after a fallout with manager Ruben Amorim. His loan at Villa runs until the end of the season.
Since arriving at Villa, Rashford has shown strong form, providing three assists despite still waiting for his first goal with the club.
Villa’s victory puts them in a strong position ahead of the return leg, with Rashford looking to continue contributing to their Champions League campaign.