UCL: Barcelona spank Newcastle to progress

Newcastle produced a contrasting half at the Camp Nou as they were spanked  7-2 by Barcelona, ending the UEFA Champions League campaign 8-3 on aggregate. 

The magpies had produced a great performance that almost got them a win in the first leg last week as well. James Park, only for Malick Thiaw to hand them a penalty, the last kick of the action.

However, things were different in the first half of the return leg as Newcastle produced a great performance that saw them restore parity twice, and again conceded a late goal in the half, and Lamine Yamal again converted.

Things then became worse for Eddie Howe’s men, losing concentration and conceding four goals in the second half as the hosts ran riot.

Raphinha, who got a brace in the tie, needed just six minutes to open the goals account with a cool finish before Anthony Elanga equalised from Lewis Hall’s ball across.

Barcelona were ahead again, leading through Marc Bernal’s hooked effort. Their lead lasted a few minutes as Elanga equalised again from close range after getting on the end of Harvey Barnes’ cross.

Barca were awarded a penalty after a VAR review. Kieran Trippier was penalised for pulling Raphinha back, and Yamal’s got them ahead again.

He hosted the game beyond the English side as Fermin Lopez and Raphinha scored one each, and Robert Lewandowski bagged a brace in a comfortable second half.

 Barca will now face either Atletico Madrid or Tottenham in the quarter finals.

Newcastle are the latest Premier League side to exit the tournament after Chelsea were also thoroughly beaten by the defending champions, 8-3.

It will be a huge mountain to climb for Tottenham to overturn the three-goal deficit, having lost 5-2 to Atletico Madrid in the first leg.

This leaves Arsenal as the only English team left in the competition, as Manchester City were also ousted by Real Madrid on Tuesday night.