Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer etched his name into the record books on Wednesday night, becoming the first Blues substitute in 17 years to register two assists in a single Champions League fixture. Entering the fray as a second-half replacement for Pedro Neto, Palmer orchestrated a dramatic comeback against Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
His clinical vision helped overturn a 2-1 deficit, securing a 3-2 victory that guarantees Chelsea an automatic spot in the Round of 16. According to Opta, the 23-year-old is the first Chelsea player to achieve this substitute feat since Nicolas Anelka’s influential cameo against Liverpool in April 2009.
Elsewhere in the competition, Marcus Rashford matched a legendary mark held by Sir David Beckham during Barcelona’s 4-1 dismantling of Copenhagen. The Manchester United loanee curled a signature direct free kick into the net to close out the scoring, making him only the second Englishman in history to score a Champions League free kick for two different clubs. Beckham previously set the benchmark by scoring from set pieces for both Manchester United and Real Madrid. Rashford’s 85th-minute strike capped a dominant performance for the Catalan giants, who continue to thrive with the versatile forward in their attacking ranks.
The historic night highlights a resurgence for both England internationals as they navigate pivotal stages of their careers. Palmer’s impactful return from injury silences recent rumors regarding his future at Stamford Bridge, while Rashford’s dead-ball specialty continues to justify Barcelona’s decision to bring him to the Camp Nou this season. Both players now shift their focus back to domestic duties, with Rashford expected to lead the line for Barcelona against Elche this weekend as they look to maintain their narrow lead at the top of the La Liga table.
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