Barcelona dominates Newcastle, yet vulnerable defense may pose a challenge.
If it’s not Lamine Yamal, it’s Raphinha. If it’s not Raphinha, it’s Fermín López. And if it’s not Fermín, based on the evidence from Wednesday’s 7-2 victory over Newcastle United, it may once again be Robert Lewandowski, who found his scoring touch as Barcelona overwhelmed their Premier League rivals at Spotify Camp Nou.
The display from Hansi Flick’s team showcased the offensive strength that positions them as serious contenders for their first UEFA Champions League title in a decade. An 8-3 aggregate victory secured their advancement to the quarterfinals against either Atlético Madrid or Tottenham Hotspur, but more significantly, it was a celebration that included everyone.
Yamal converted a penalty and assisted in two additional goals, Raphinha netted two and provided two assists, Fermín contributed a goal and an assist, and Lewandowski scored twice after a three-match goal drought. Teenage midfielder Marc Bernal also found the net for the fifth time in his last nine appearances.
This occurred on a night when Barça hosted their first Champions League knockout match at Spotify Camp Nou with fans since 2019. A combination of the pandemic and a two-year relocation to the Olympic Stadium meant it had been seven years since they played a match of this magnitude in front of their own supporters at their own venue. The atmosphere at the renovated stadium, which will not be completed until 2028, was electrifying at times. It felt significant as Barça asserted their credentials to win this tournament for the first time since 2015.
“We have had big nights, but with the two tiers fully open and the crowd back up to 60,000, this was the first,” Raphinha remarked after the match. “With the fans supporting us like that, it’s going to be tough for anyone to beat us at home.”
Potential future adversaries in the competition will once again find some hope in the defending. Newcastle played their part in this tie, both in last week’s 1-1 draw at St. James’ Park and in the first half here. They came from behind twice, taking advantage of poor play from Barça, including a poorly executed Yamal back-heel near his own box, to equalize in a thrilling opening 45 minutes.
Anthony Elanga scored both goals, having found the net only once since joining the Magpies last summer, as Barça’s defensive vulnerabilities were exposed. They have now conceded two or more goals in four of their last seven knockout matches at home in the Champions League — four against Paris Saint-Germain twice, three against Inter Milan, and now two against Eddie Howe’s team.
However, after regaining their footing in the match, Newcastle fell behind again by halftime when Yamal scored from the penalty spot. They were then ruthlessly dismantled in the second half by one of Europe’s top attacking teams.
The tie was effectively decided by the hour mark. Newcastle did not defend well at times, but it’s difficult to fault them when faced with Yamal and Raphinha advancing with the ball and Fermín making runs behind the defense. It was Fermín, receiving an excellent pass from Raphinha, who made it 4-2 early in the second half. He now has 10 goal contributions in the Champions League this season (six goals and four assists).
Sandro Tonali, a fitness concern before the match, was substituted due to injury for Newcastle, and it felt like their chances were slipping away. Even so, they likely did not anticipate being so thoroughly defeated.
First, Lewandowski headed in a corner from Raphinha; then he finished calmly after excellent work from Yamal. The Polish striker is now the oldest player to score twice in a Champions League match, surpassing Filippo Inzaghi.
At 37, Lewandowski is, it can be said, the veteran of this team. Three teenagers started — Pau Cubarsí, Bernal, and Yamal — in a squad with an average age of 25 years and 18 days. Flick — who has spent less than €90 million on transfer fees for new players during his two years in charge — has assembled a team for both the present and the future. Even Raphinha, at 29, is a veteran compared to the others, and it was the Brazilian international who capped the scoring, netting the seventh after a mistake from Jacob Ramsey, who passed directly to him.
That brings the total to 30 goals in 10 Champions League matches for Barça this season. Only PSG (34 in 12) and Club Brugge (32 in 14) have more, but both have played additional matches as well.
Atlético or Spurs await. A potential semifinal against Arsenal may follow, with PSG, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich all on the opposite side of the draw. There are goals in this squad to go all the way. The only uncertainties lie in defense. With Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde both sidelined due to injury, Barça also lost Eric García and goalkeeper Joan García to knocks against Newcastle, with Wojciech Szczesny brought on late in the match.
Fortunately, Barça have a strategy to address those defensive issues: they will simply aim to outscore their opponents.
