Newcastle United were pulverized and subsequently eliminated from the Champions League after a 7–2 defeat to Barcelona at the Camp Nou, with the Catalans advancing 8–3 on aggregate in their round-of-16 matchup against the Magpies.
Eddie Howe’s side were competitive for the 45 minutes in which the game was absolutely crazy. One would think anything can happen in such scenario, but the second half was much more controlled by the hosts and
the Geordies were overwhelmed, overplayed and over-everything after the break as Barcelona scored five unanswered goals.
Barcelona started strong and took the lead inside six minutes when Lamine Yamal drove through midfield and combined with Fermin Lopez before Raphinha finished low past Aaron Ramsdale.
Newcastle responded quickly. Lewis Hall advanced down the left and combined with Harvey Barnes before finding Anthony Elanga, who cut across goal to equalise in the 15th minute.
Barcelona regained the lead shortly after through Marc Bernal, who converted from close range following a Raphinha free kick. Newcastle again responsed, with Elanga scoring his second in the 28th minute after arriving at the back post to finish another move involving Hall and Barnes.
The match remained open, with both sides creating chances, but Barcelona moved ahead again in first-half stoppage time. Kieran Trippier was penalised for pulling Raphinha inside the area following a VAR review, and Yamal converted the resulting penalty to give the hosts a 3–2 lead at the break. Rings a bell?
Barcelona extended their advantage early in the second half. Fermin Lopez ran through to score in the 51st minute, before Robert Lewandowski added a fifth with a header from a corner five minutes later. Things looked bad at 4-2, we all were fearing a face painting at 5-2… and the worst was yet to come.
Lewandowski scored again in the 61st minute after being set up by Yamal. Raphinha added his second goal of the night in the 72nd minute after capitalising on a misplaced pass in Newcastle’s defense. Tonali left the pitch early injured. What else?
The result marks the end of Newcastle’s best-ever Champions League campaign after reaching the knockout stage’s round of 16 for the first time in club history, but it also featured a Magpie team conceding seven goals in a European match in what amounted to another first at the club.
Newcastle return to Premier League action on Sunday, March 22, when they host Sunderland at St James’ Park. Lads better bounce back as there is a long break and losing these two particular games, the first one the way they did and the second one because of who’s in front, could throw the boys spiraling out of control.
