Newcastle United host Barcelona at St James’ Park on Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie, and for the second time this season.
Newcastle reached this stage after a resounding 9-3 aggregate playoff victory over Qarabag and is now facing a challenge never seen before in Tyneside: a last-16 match in the UCL for the first time in club history.
Eddie Howe’s side have been inconsistent domestically, to say the least, gambling too much as to pretty much be on the outside
looking in of clinching a place to compete in Europe next season.
The situation the club arrived at featured a plethora of alternating wins and losses in recent weeks, only the defeats always happened when they counted the most: a Carabao Cup aggregate loss to Man City in February, and then a 3-1 FA Cup loss to the same Cityzen squad on Saturday.
All things considered, the Magpies have both scored and conceded in each of their last 12 matches in all competitions, which is never a good combination unless you put nine goals past your opponent—only not everybody is Qarabag, are they?
In slightly more positive news, Jacob Ramsey returns from suspension and should be on the starting XI, while Tino Livramento is also available after injury but might see his minutes limited with a double-legged affair against the La Liga behemoths. Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth and Lewis Miley remain sidelined.
Anthony Gordon, Newcastle’s leading scorer in this season’s Champions League, is expected to start up front and should send ever-lost Nick Woltemade to the bench for the game against Barcelona.
The Catalans qualified directly for the last 16 after finishing fifth in the Champions League’s league phase, with Hansi Flick’s side entering Tuesday’s matchup on a four-game winning streak across all competitions.
Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen are unavailable through injury for Barcelona, but it’s not that FCB don’t have two starting XIs in their roster, so they’ll still put a hella competitive team on the team.
Not to mention having a kid known as Lamine Yamal. You heard of him?
Here are some of Howe’s Wisdom Nuggets, courtesy of NUFC.co.uk
On the prospect of one of the biggest games in the club’s recent history…
“For me, it is, and that’s very much the mentality it needs. Rising to the occasion and embracing the size of the game – I think these are things that have helped us this season, and we’re looking for the same again.”
On being second favourites with many ahead of the tie, and Flick’s Barcelona…
“I think the underdog role, to a degree, in my time here has helped us at times. When we’ve been in that position where we feel the odds are stacked against us.
“We’re going to need to use every psychological tool we can to help us in this game, because it’s undeniable that we’re playing a very, very good team – (and) an outstandingly well-coached team I have to say as well, from having watched them thoroughly in preparing for both games, as we have done. They’re a top team.”
On Livramento’s fitness…
“He probably hasn’t done enough training for me to feel 100 per cent confident that he’s in that best physical moment, especially when it’s such a big game, to start.
“But he’s in our squad, and anyone who’s in that position is in contention to play. It’s a delicate balance with Tino at the moment.
“He trained again this morning and he trained again on Friday and is in good spirits. He’s in a good place. He’s a massive player for us and it’s great to have him back. Obviously, I’ve got to try and get the team selection right.”
On what is needed on Tuesday, and at the Spotify Camp Nou next week…
“I think we’ve had some great recent experiences to help us with the two-legged game. I think all our Champions League have been a great dress rehearsal for this moment, and that’s the way we need to look at it. Now is the moment we need to be at our very best.”
Howay!
- Date: Tuesday, March 10th
- Kick-off: 21:00 BST / 16:00 EST
- Location: St. James’ Park, Newcastle (England)
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