Barcelona began their new European journey in victorious fashion thanks to a 2-1 win away to Newcastle at St. James’ Park in Matchday 1 of the League Phase of this season’s Champions League. Barça went into one of the toughest grounds in England and put on a very professional display, never allowing the home team to gain any momentum and quieting the crowd thanks to a star turn from Marcus Rashford, who opened his Barça account with two goals, one of them a Goal of the Season contender, to give the Catalans
all three points in their European opener.
FIRST HALF
The game started as expected, with Newcastle energized by an amazing atmosphere and pressing Barça high up the pitch and looking to force mistakes to create early chances. They had some semi-dangerous moments but couldn’t create a real opportunity, and Barça managed to weather the early storm in the first 20 minutes. Newcastle did have a big opportunity on the counter when Anthony Elanga found Harvey Barnes at the far post for a tap-in, but Joan Garcia made a fantastic save to stop Barça from going behind.
The Blaugana eventually established some territorial dominance and had a lot of the ball, but they struggled to find spaces inside a tight and well-organized Newcastle defense and the absence of Lamine Yamal was clearly felt as the Catalans failed to come up with moments of individual brilliance to break down the opposition.
Barça’s best attacking trips fell to Marcus Rashford, who had a couple of good runs and got himself into dangerous positions, but the Englishman struggled with his finishing and decision-making and couldn’t trouble Nick Pope in the Newcastle goal.
The game got pretty physical towards the end of the half, with Joelinton, Gerard Martín and Dan Burn picking up yellow cards for some strong challenges. The game was goalless at halftime with a lot of intensity but not a lot of chances, and both teams would be looking to be more creative and dangerous up front in the second half.
SECOND HALF
The start of the second half was very similar to the end of the first, with Barça dominating the ball but unable to create real chances against a solid Newcastle defense. The Blaugrana did do a good job of limiting the home team’s counter-attacks, however, and remained mostly trouble-free to start the period.
But they still needed find a goal, and it finally came at the hour mark thanks to a wonderful left-footed cross from Jules Kounde to find Marcus Rashford, who headed a beauty into the corner to give Barça the lead and score his first goal for the club.
Rashford wasn’t done yet, however, and doubled his and Barça’s tally in spectacular fashion 10 minutes later when he received the ball outside the box and fired an absolute rocket from 25 yards that went in off the crossbar and completely stunned everyone at the stadium, including his own teammates.
Newcastle never managed to recover from the double blow delivered by Rashford and couldn’t put together any meaningful pressure, while Barça remained calm and controlled possession to keep the hosts as far away from Joan Garcia’s goal as possible.
But in the 90th minute the home team was given hope: Jacob Murphy’s low cross found Anthony Gordon at the far post, and the winger tapped it home to cut the deficit in half and set up a dramatic finish with seven minutes of added time still to play.
Barça showed zero nerves after conceding and went back to dominating the ball and did an excellent job of running out the clock without allowing Newcastle a real chance, and the final whistle came to give them all three points in their European debut.
This wasn’t the prettiest win ever but getting three points at St. James’ Park without Lamine Yamal is a huge deal, and Barça showed great maturity to manage the game and secure the win after Rashford’s two moments of brilliance.
It’s a very successful start to a new European journey, and Barça have passed their first big test of the season. Well done, boys!
Newcastle: Pope; Trippier (Botman 76’), Schär (Thiaw 63’), Burn, Livramento; Guimarães, Tonali, Joelinton (Willock 63’); Elanga (Murphy 63’), Gordon, Barnes (Woltemade 63’)
Goal: Gordon (90’)
Barcelona: Garcia; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsí (Christensen 69’), Martín (Eric 82’); De Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Fermín (Casadó 90+3’), Rashford (Olmo 82’); Lewandowski (Ferran 69’)
Goals: Rashford (58’, 67’)
