Barca’s Spherical of 16 tie took them again to the North East of England and a date with Newcastle United, a group that they’d already crushed on Matchday 1 of this season’s league stage, and towards whom they’d gained 4 of the earlier 5 fixtures.
Hansi Flick’s aspect arrived on the again of a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions, and had progressed in 15 of their final 16 Spherical of 16 ties.
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Subsequently, the stress was all on a Magpies outfit that had crushed Qarabag 9-3 on combination within the Champions League playoff to set this two-legged tie up.
Given they’d misplaced solely two of their earlier 32 European house legs (W22, D8) at St. James’ Park, and taking into consideration Barca’s common away type in 2025/26, the match was arrange properly to be one other basic encounter.
Let’s check out three speaking factors from the sport…
No punch up entrance
Within the first 45 minutes, notably, Barca’s assault wasn’t wherever near being on the entrance foot.
Other than a handful of transient flashes from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, there actually wasn’t something to get enthusiastic about earlier than the official blew his whistle for half-time.
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Robert Lewandowski might as properly not have been there, and the profligacy from the 2 broad males and Fermin Lopez towards what’s a mid-table Premier League aspect was simply not adequate.
Patchwork defence did properly towards pacy Newcastle assault
When was the final time a Barcelona defence consisted of – a centre-back taking part in as a right-back, a right-back taking part in as a left-back… you get the image.
In opposition to two lightning-fast gamers in Will Osula and Anthony Elanga, Araujo and Cancelo acquitted themselves properly for probably the most half, while Cubarsi and Martin proceed to construct what’s turning into a fairly first rate central defensive partnership.
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A partnership that will lack tempo, however has good stability and understanding, and is usually calmness personified, with neither participant being one who tends to panic beneath stress.
Dropping a late objective within the method they did was regrettable, nevertheless.
Barca’s midfield struggled for management
Unusually for the Catalans, there wasn’t an terrible lot of crisp, fast passing within the midfield areas, despite the fact that Newcastle had been with out captain Bruno Guimaraes.
Pedri was glorious as standard and could be excused from this specific critique, however Marc Bernal wasn’t his standard assured self, and there have been lengthy passages of play when the ball was persistently turned over by a Magpies midfield that had been up for the battle.
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A good chunk of Barca’s passing via the strains and related motion was laboured, which gave the hosts extra impetus and intent, and that will even should be addressed in subsequent week’s second leg if the Blaugranes need to progress.