All To Play For

Newcastle United 1-1 Barcelona (UEFA Champions League Round of 16)

It was the wife’s birthday over the weekend so no matches for me, luckily the wait is worth it as I was always pencilled in for this biggy between Newcastle and Barcelona in the Champions League.

It’s my first UCL game of the season, I usually get a couple each year through UEFA but have had to bide my time as others in my position have been sent to the likes of Anfield and the Etihad whilst I’ve often got Glanford Park in Scunthorpe or midweek matches at Boston United.

These two teams did already meet in the group stages earlier in the campaign, a game I watched at home on TV when I wasn't working, which Barca won 2-1 thanks to a couple of goals from Marcus Rashford, now back for a second bite, winner takes all, and moves through to the quarter finals of the continent’s most prestigious competition.

Barcelona are massive, I’ve never had the fortune to see them in the flesh before, so I’m breaking my duck, not with a classic era of talent, better days have been under Johan Cruyff in the early 90’s and Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique in the noughties when the likes of Messi, Iniesta and Xavi graced the Camp Nou and beyond, but still under Hansi Flick, they are a force to be reckoned with, if not quite having the resources they once did?

Star attractions include Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha, Pedri, Gavi, Olmo, still plenty to whet the appetite, whilst this game brings back memories too, the first time the two sides ever met in 1997 ended in a memorable 3-2 victory for Newcastle, Tino Asprilla scoring an iconic and unforgettable hat-trick.

Newcastle have won one and lost four of their five matches between the two, it’s a tough ask for Eddie Howe’s men to progress against a side with such rich history in this competition, not having a great season the Magpies, they are at least often strong at home and will have the backing of their noisy support at St James’ Park.

I’m out the door early afternoon as I’ve to drop a birthday present off at my sisters, up the A614 through North Notts to the A1 where it’s pretty much straight ahead until I pass the Angel of the North on my right-hand side just over 150 miles in.

The Venue

I’ve parked at Times Square Car Park on the banks of the Tyne as it is about as south as I can get from the stadium north of the river, looking for a clean exit down the A189 when I head home later in the evening, it’s a good fifteen minute walk up the St James’ Boulevard to the ground but I break it off with a quick pint in the Leonardo Hotel as I’ve plenty of time to take in some of the town's sights.

The walk is fresh as the wind blows in my face, I’m having a good look around the bars and restaurants of Bigg Market before making pilgrimage to a little book shop on St Andrews Street called the Back Page. It has some wonderful football memorabilia, plenty of Newcastle United programmes and a lot of tat, it has old football books and DVD’s, Subbuteo sets, coasters, trading cards, an old wooden rattle is in a glass cabinet with some figurines of players past and present, from Jackie Milburn and Alan Shearer to Eddie Howe, it’s a brilliant book shop in the shadows of the stadium under the Chinatown entrance, it even has a replica Carabao Cup in the window, a trophy Newcastle won in 2025.

Sky darkening and crowds gathering, I’m walking over Gallowgate where St James’ sits on the hill, huge, modern, imposing, iconic with its cantilever stands backing on to busy streets now closed to through traffic to allow the large footfall.

I’m told to head to the press lounge where I can pick up my accreditation, underneath the Milburn Stand it feels enclosed with anticipation as crowds gather around the players entrance door, as I enter and collect my pass, I sit in the press conference room, busy, noisy and warm, Champions League banners behind the tables in view, I can hear the boos outside of the fans, apparently the Barcelona bus has just pulled in.

After twenty minutes or so I’m heading up the steps a good ninety minutes before kick off, outside into the open and up to the top of the lower tier of the huge Milburn Stand, where my seats are, in the commentary gantry, as I’m joined by a fellow scout from Hull, who I’ve seen here before.

The view is sublime, set back, high up, you are far away from the action, the crowd slowly filling as the Barcelona fans high up on my left make themselves heard, before the noise erupts minutes before kick off, former Blaugrana defender Juan Pablo Sorin is sat a couple of seats besides me as he’s on comms duty for Spanish TV.

The Game

There’s a fireworks show before kick off as the atmosphere builds incredibly ahead of the two teams walking out to the famous Champions League theme music, Barcelona in bright orange, I call it the Koeman 92 kit, whilst Newcastle are in their usual black and white stripes.

I’m expecting fireworks from Barcelona, keen to set eyes on Yamal for the first time, Pedri for the first time, and they show some nice early touches which have me gasp aloud, but it’s Newcastle who impress the most, Joelinton destructive in their midfield, Tonali with tenacity, these two set the tone and the home team press for opportunity, without really creating anything of note.

Hansi Flick’s side are known for their high line in defence which is sometimes exposed against the pace that Newcastle have out wide, Anthony Elanga is getting some joy down the right, and whips a couple of balls in to no avail, but it’s a first half which is played at fast forward pace, a good tempo, without real incident, two decent teams battling it out on the front foot, Barca go back to front much quicker than I had imagined they would, Ronald Araujo at one stage just lumping one forward to nobody, Yamal right often cutting in on his left, Raphinha left cutting in on his right, but Eddie Howe’s team have plenty of bodies to stop them, before racing away and breaking at every opportunity.

The Score

At half-time it’s scoreless as fans come over to the long haired and still young looking Sorin for photos, I ask my friend from Hull whether Newcastle would take a draw here, he seems to think they need a goal, to give them first leg advantage, as going to the Nou Camp level will not be enough.

But as the second half starts it feels like both are settling for a share of spoils, Newcastle attack, but not with as many numbers forward, whilst Barcelona start to slow the pace down, and keep the ball, instead of pressing ahead, as they did in the first 45.

On 67 there’s a triple substitution for Newcastle and that enlivens their attack, suddenly Gordon finds Murphy who blasts over, before Harvey Barnes hits a post, the rebound put in by Joelinton is cheered, but the Brazilian is offside.

Newcastle are pressing and are wearing Barca down, and finally a move that comes off on 85 Jacob Murphy is set free, he dinks a cross from the right and Barnes is arriving, late, to run onto and smash home, keeper Garcia can’t keep out, the roar from the Gallowgate erupts as the rest of the stadium then follows in celebration, Newcastle have the lead, a lead which they could take to the Nou Camp, advantage to Eddie Howe and his men, how big will this goal be?

“Barnes will tear you apart” is sung by all as the board goes up for five added minutes, Barcelona are starting to probe with desperation but have left themselves open, Gordon can pick a pass to set Barnes free but ignores him and instead is dispossessed, one last rally as Olmo weaves into the box, there’s plenty of defenders, defending, but one, who’s been brilliant, Malick Thiaw, leaves a leg out, Olmo is over, penalty is given, and Lamine Yamal dispatches, with the last kick of the game.

Painful for Newcastle fans who were seconds away from celebrating a huge first leg lead, it’s probably the only shot on target Barcelona have had, but that goal will now put them in the driving seat, to get the job done where they'll be fancied in the second leg.

The Stars

Despite their late mistake, Newcastle’s performance was brilliant, from back to front, in goal Aaron Ramsdale is such a better kicker than Nick Pope, he offers a more composed defensive last line and lessens the nervousness around the stadium which has been evident when I’ve previously been here, in front of Ramsdale, Thiaw and Burn were magnificent at centre half handling (almost) everything with care, Lewis Hall at left back very good against Yamal who gave him a real test, he has to be England’s first choice for me.

In midfield I would say Newcastle won the battle on the night, Tonali a constant irritant, off the ball snappy, on it always with quality looking to play forwards, Joelinton is that fella who probably shouldn’t be in the team, not technically great, not easy on the eye, but his work rate unmatched, he’s as strong as an ox and simply bullied Barca’s pretty ballers out of the way to often dispossess them.

In attack I think Newcastle caused Barca’s high line problems with their pace on the break, Elanga in a few times, did ok down the right, I perhaps think Gordon could have been utilised from the start as he is just as dynamic on the counter, Osula battled well on my first viewing of him, Harvey Barnes ‘always delivers’ and is a player very much underrated, one who should not go without notice.

For Barcelona, their goalkeeper flapped at a couple of early crosses but improved, in defence I liked the look of Cubarsi, just nineteen years old, not the biggest, but very confident in possession, Bernal in midfield wearing 22, just 18, big in size, decent in touch, reminding me a little of a novice level Sergio Busquets.

Whilst not magnificent, Pedri was productive gliding around and keeping the ball, Fermin Lopes, short sleeves and gloves, floating in the number ten position, played well, Lamine Yamal shown some lovely touches, has electric feet and a real desire to do well for the team which is an underrated talent that is overshadowed by his technique. He's certainly amongst the best in the world.

The Verdict

It’s all set up for perhaps a long night at the Nou Camp, I do think Barcelona have the edge, but having watched them, a little disappointed, they certainly aren’t the side they used to be.

Newcastle have every chance to cause an upset and can do their opponents on the break, their pace is their weapon, and their midfield is perhaps even stronger than Barca’s. Only a fool would write them off, but perhaps I’m a fool to give them a chance as you suspect Barcelona will be much better? I do think we could be in for a very exciting night, one which I’m not yet confident of predicting the outcome, and that is testament to the way Newcastle performed, there's not such a gulf in class between the two, as you would think.

The Teams

Newcastle United: Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Trippier (Tino Livramento 67), Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall, Jacob Ramsey, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton, Anthony Elanga (Jacob Murphy 67), William Osula (Anthony Gordon 67), Harvey Barnes (Joe Willock 90).

Barcelona: Joan Garcia, Joao Cancelo, Ronald Araujo (Xavi Espart 88), Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Pedri (Dani Olmo 70), Bernal (Marc Casado 73), Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez (Ferran Torres 88), Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski (Marcus Rashford 70).

8:00pm Kick Off. Tuesday 10th March 2026, St James' Park, Newcastle (att 52,103).