Newcastle United dealt heartbreaking blow as Barcelona snatch late draw at St. James’ Park
The Magpies led in the late stages, but were pegged back by a Lamine Yamal penalty which turned out to be the last kick of the game.
There is a certain romance when Newcastle United and Barcelona meet. They are linked by Sir Bobby Robson, who took charge of both clubs, and on Tyneside at least, memories of 1997 remain fresh.
The hallowed turf at St. James’ Park still has echoes of Keith Gillespie charging down the wing, and Faustino Asprilla heading home for his hattrick. The noise, the passion, and the emotion all linger from that famous evening, waiting to be resurrected. Asprilla was back on Tyneside for this clash between the clubs, hoping that his presence might inspire new memories.
Eddie Howe and Lewis Hall had built the game up perfectly on Monday and now, under the lights, the stage was set. All the ingredients were there, and the actors assembled on the pitch. It was time for the show to begin.
What followed was a raucous 90 minutes that ended so cruelly for the Magpies. A lead given to them by Harvey Barnes was dashed so late on, and a draw was the outcome. Eddie Howe described Lamine Yamato’s equaliser as “a tough one to take”, which can be viewed as an understatement. It was gut wrenching.
“There was so much good today”, Howe said, making clear that Newcastle had deserved to win. They had indeed. They limited Barcelona to so little, whilst being a pertinent attacking force throughout the encounter.
Not all is lost though. The tie is effectively all on the match next week in Barcelona. It is the opportunity Howe and his players would have wanted coming out of the first leg, with the Head Coach stating that this match had been “a great advert for [Newcastle] as a club”. What is for certain is that they can go one better next week, and produce not only an advert, but a shockwave across the continent.
St. James’ Park thrives on big nights. The dazzling floodlights lit up an arena that was pumped and ready for action. Fireworks rocketed into black sky from the roof of the East Stand as Wor Flags unveiled their Gallowgate End display. It read ‘Geordie Boys Are Taking Over Budapest Awaits For Me’. Hungary’s capital city, the setting for this season’s Champions League final, is a long way off for Newcastle, but why not dream?
The energy in the stands was matched in those in black and white on the pitch. All of the early running came from Newcastle, who conjured several half chances; winning a number of corners. Perhaps their best of the first period fell to Anthony Elanga, who having been played through so his goal-bound effort saved by the finger tips of Joan García.
William Osula also went close with a header that went just over the crossbar. As for Barcelona, they managed to break with speed on a few occasions, but apart from one shot that went straight down the throat of Aaron Ramsdale, their attacking threat was blunt in the first 45.
Apart from the lack of a first half lead, the main gripe of Newcastle supporters was the Barcelona’s high profile winger Lamine Yamal not being booked for what appeared to be a blatant body check on Lewis Hall. A yellow card for Yamal would have seen him miss the second leg.
All associated with Newcastle knew though, that with the game finely poised on Tyneside, and with another leg to come in Spain, they needed to take one of the openings that they created. They needed something tangible to take to the Camp Nou that might give them a realistic chance of knocking out a European heavyweight from this season’s competition.
Where the Magpies had started to wither in their first meeting with Barcelona this season, this time they grew stronger. The second half saw their intensity increase, with Newcastle winning the individual battles on the pitch.
Substitute Jacob Murphy fired an effort over the bar, Harvey Barnes struck the post, before Joelinton put the rebound in from an offside position. Emotions all over were growing, but would just one chance drop kindly for Newcastle?
With the game building to a crescendo, Murphy played a quick one-two with Tino Livramento, allowing him to whip in an inch-perfect delivery for Barnes who sent the ball towards goal. García tried, but he could not keep it out. The net rippled and the roar of 50,000 Geordies bellowed into the night. The lead they had been looking for had been found, but not long later, it was gone.
Four minutes were added on after the 90 minutes were up, and with all four having been played (plus another 20 seconds), Malick Thiaw was adjudged to have clipped the shin of Dani Olmo. The Spaniard went down theatrically, but it didn’t matter. Lamine Yamal then stepped up to the spot, having been in Lewis Hall’s pocket all game, and sent Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way.
It was cruel. Injustice filled the air. Barcelona did not deserve the draw they achieved. Newcastle had played so well and got so close to a famous win, only for it to be snatched away.
Next week the two sides will lock horns again at the Camp Nou, where the winner will reach the last eight. The pain Newcastle have felt here, they will undoubtedly take to Spain next week, looking to avenge this heartbreak. All is certainly not lost.
This season Eddie Howe’s side went to the Parc des Princes and came away with a 1-1 draw against PSG, a game that they should have won. They know they have it in them, so why not go one better? The best away day in Newcastle United’s history awaits for them, all they have to do is grasp it.