Ahead of the St James’ Park first leg, it was clear that yellow cards could also play a significant part in terms of the state of play ahead of the game in Barcelona on Wednesday 18 March..
Across the two squads, Newcastle United and Barcelona had a combined half dozen players at risk of suspension for that second leg.
These six players were on two Champions League yellow cards, a third triggers a one game suspension for the next match.
For Barcelona that was Marc Casado, Gerard Martin, Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez.
Whilst for Newcastle United, Joelinton and Dan Burn went into the SJP match on two yellows each. Malick Thiaw has already served a one game suspension, missing the Qarabag second leg, after picking up three yellows.
The very good news was that both Dan Burn and Joelinton managed to complete Tuesday night’s match without a caution.
The not so good news was that none of Marc Casado, Gerard Martin, Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez received a booking at St James Park, Casado coming on as a sub and the other three starting. So all four Barcelona players will be available next week.
Fermin Lopez could/should easily have been booked against Newcastle United, whilst it was astonishing that the referee on Tuesday failed to book Lamine Yamal for a clear yellow card offence on Lewis Hall. Cancelo was the only Barcelona player cautioned in this week’s match.
It was also not good news for Newcastle United to see both Sandro Tonali and Joe Willock booked against Barcelona, as they have joined Dan Burn and Joelinton on two yellows.
As you can see from the rules below, yellow cards don’t expire unless you go beyond the quarter-finals.
So if for example Newcastle United do get past Barcelona and face Atletico Madrid or Tottenham. A yellow card in Barcelona for any of Burn, Willock, Tonali or Joelinton, would see them ruled out of the first leg of a quarter-final.
These are the relevant UEFA rules…
Article 63.02
From the first match in the league phase, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, that did not result in a red card, as well as after any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.).
Article 63.03
Single yellow cards and pending suspensions are always carried forward to the next stage of the competition, except in the cases described in Article 63.04 below.
Article 63.04
Exceptionally, all yellow cards and pending yellow-card suspensions expire on completion of the play-offs. They are not carried forward to the league phase. In addition, all yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals. They are not carried forward to the semi-finals.
The 2025/26 Champions League leaderboard for Newcastle United players and yellow cards:
Thiaw 3, Tonali 2, Willock 2, Burn 2, Joelinton 2, Ramsdale 1, Bruno 1, Gordon 1, Elanga 1