We asked Davey Hat-Trick to give us his match ratings and player comments after Barcelona 7 Newcastle 2.
At half time, even though we were 3-2 down, I felt we had a chance of doing something special at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona looked vulnerable and I thought that all we had to do was tighten up at the back and we could go through.
But Barcelona battered us for most of the second half. We continued to make mistake after mistake, ended up buried under an avalanche of Barcelona attacks.
On the positive side, we more than held our own for three-quarters of this tie. But Barcelona shifted up three gears and Newcastle just could not cope. They were fast, slick and precise. They frightened us into mistake after mistake, and to be honest, it looked like men against boys.
When the dust settles, we’ll look back on our latest European adventure with some pride, and a lot of satisfaction. Some good wins, no really bad results (until tonight) and some memorable moments.
I’m as gutted as the next mag, but I’ll try to remember that this was Barcelona, five-time winners of the Champions League, top of La Liga, and home to Yamal, Gavi, Ferran Torres, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri et al. One day we may be at their level, but we aren’t for now.
Aaron Ramsdale 5
He may think he could have been in a better postion for one or two of Barça’s goals but it wasn’t his fault that our opponents cut through us with ease
Kieran Trippier 5
Played OK for 45 minutes, then gave away a pen, and could have had a red card.
You could argue that was the start of the rot. But he wasn’t alone in causing problems for the Mags. Subbed off at half time.
Malick Thiaw 5
Never looked comfortable all night.
Out of position for a couple of Barcelona goals – along with others – and indecisive on occasion.
Dan Burn 5
Worked hard but was up against it.
He’s good man-to-man but Barcelona attacked him from all angles.
Lewis Hall 7
One of our better performers, both in defence and attack. Not quite as good against Yamal as in the first leg, but more than equal to the task, and had an excellent first half. Good assist for our first goal
Sandro Tonali 5
OK in the first half – lost in the second.
Looked like he was treading water prior to being subbed off.
Jacob Ramsey 4
Looked out of his depth tonight – a shame as he’s been good of late.
The icing on the cake was a horror of a ball that provided Lewandowski with an assist.
Joelinton 5
An early booking took the edge off his game. Fairly anonymous after that. Subbed off with Sunday (and a potential second card) in mind
Anthony Elanga 8
Ironically, his best game in a Newcastle shirt.
Could have had a penalty, did score a couple of great goals.
For a brief moment, he saw his name in lights.
Anthony Gordon 5
Never got into the game, apart from a couple of decent passes.
He didn’t threaten at all.
Harvey Barnes 6
Did well in the first half – he and Hall had Barca backpedalling down their right on more than one occasion.
Provided a nice assist for our second.
But – along with the majority of his colleagues – faded into anonymity in the second half.
SUBS
Tino Livramento 5
I would have started him, but to be truthful, he looked a bit leggy when he came on.
Could have done better for the Lewandowski header and never really got going under wave after wave of Barcelona pressure.
Joe Willock 5
All of the momentum was with Barcelona when Willock entered the fray and he couldn’t get up to the speed of the game.
Sven Botman 5
Our defence was all at sea when Sven was sent on to join them.
You could argue that the ship steadied after his introduction, or you could argue that Barca were coasting by then.
Anyway, Sven didn’t make any difference as far as I could see.
Jacob Murphy 5
By the time he came on, the Newcastle team was completely dispirited, so expecting things to change when he did was fanciful. And they didn’t
Will Osula N/A
Not on long enough to judge, BUT it seems that Eddie is happier for Osula to lead the line, than he is for Wissa to do likewise.
Barcelona 7 Newcastle 2 – Wednesday 18 March 2026 5.45pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Elanga 15, 28
Barcelona:
Raphinha 6, 72, Bernal 18, Yamal 45+7 pen, Lopez 51, Lewandowski 56, 61
Possession was Newcastle 37% Barcelona 63%
Total shots were Newcastle 8 Barcelona 18
Shots on target were Newcastle 5 Barcelona 13
Corners were Newcastle 2 Barcelona 6
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 18 Barcelona 29
Newcastle team v Barcelona:
Ramsdale, Trippier (Livarmento 46), Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali (Willock 55), Ramsey, Joelinton (Botman 64), Elanga (Jacob Murphy 64), Barnes, Gordon (Osula 81)
Unused subs:
Pope, Ruddy, Harris, Wissa, Woltemade, Alex Murphy, Neave