Following the FA Cup defeat towards Manchester Metropolis, Newcastle United have shifted their focus to the UEFA Champions League.
The Magpies are set to tackle Barcelona within the Spherical of 16, with the primary leg set to be performed this midweek at St James’ Park. Barça have already heading into this conflict.
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As for Newcastle coach Eddie Howe, he has already raised the temperature of this recreation by calling it one of many membership’s greatest matches in historical past.
Eddie Howe on dealing with Barcelona in UCL
Talking after Newcastle’s FA Cup exit, Howe shifted his focus to the Champions League.
“We now have the largest recreation within the membership’s historical past in a really brief time,” he mentioned (h/t ), referring to the primary leg encounter towards Barcelona at St. James’ Park.
“We now have by no means been on this place within the Champions League and it’s the greatest competitors that exists,” he added.
Eddie Howe is prepared for the Barcelona problem. (Picture by Alex Livesey/Getty Photos)
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To make certain, Newcastle United did attain the Spherical of 16 stage in the course of the 2002-03 season, however they’d accomplished so below the earlier regulation.
The Magpies will enter this conflict on the again of a Twelfth-place end within the league part and a subsequent 9-3 win over Qarabag within the knockout playoffs.
Howe, who was the brains behind Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup triumph final season, mentioned he’s assured of his workforce’s probabilities towards the Catalans.
“We’d like the followers to really feel the identical approach we do. We now have to search out power to boost our efficiency to a stage that we might not have seen this season, as a result of I feel that solely then can we overcome this tie,” he mentioned.
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Barcelona and Newcastle did meet one another earlier within the season, with Barça securing a 2-1 win because of a Marcus Rashford masterclass.
Traditionally, the 2 groups have met 5 instances in Europe, with a 4-1 document in favour of Barça.