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Eddie Howe talks to TNT Sports. “We performed well a week ago … we need a similar-type performance … need to be good again … take a couple more of the chances we got … [Barcelona] could tweak things … but it’s interesting that both teams have been quite consistent in their selection … we’re looking forward to the game … the size of the [Camp Nou] pitch won’t deviate too much from the one we play on at St James’ Park … it’ll be how they use the ball and how good they are in tight situations … we know what to expect … we need to be at our absolute very best to qualify … that’s what we’re trying to deliver.”
Dan Burn is asked by TNT Sports for his opinion of Camp Nou, and quips: “It’s amazing. It’ll be even better when it’s finished!” A stellar career in the music hall stretches out ahead.
The winner of this tie will play either Tottenham Hotspur or Atletico Madrid† in the quarter finals in April. Both teams have four players who will miss the first leg of that tie should they pick up a booking tonight. Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, Gerard Martín and Marc Casadó are the four Barca players on the disciplinary tightrope; Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Dan Burn and Joe Willock are the Toon quartet who need to take extra care.
† I did think about employing the hoary old strikethrough gag for “either Tottenham Hotspur or” up there. But last night Sporting Club became only the fifth team in Champions League history to come back from a first-leg deficit of three goals or more, joining Deportivo La Coruña, Roma, Liverpool, and Barcelona in the pantheon, so why not Spurs? Could something that’s happened just four times in 34 years occur twice in 26 hours? Thanks to the efforts of the current Spurs team? Let’s rule nothing out! Maybe there’s something in the air. But this is a matter for tonight’s Clockwatch, I’ve gone well off piste here.††
†† Footnotes longer than the entry they annotate are kinda fun.†††
††† Self-indulgent, but fun.
Both teams make just one change to their starting line-up from the first leg at St James’ Park. Eric Garcia comes into the Barcelona defence at the expense of Ronald Araújo, while up front for Newcastle, Anthony Gordon replaces Will Osula. Araújo and Osula both drop to the bench.
The teams
Barcelona: Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Cubarsi, Gerard, Joao Cancelo, Bernal, Gonzalez, Yamal, Lopez, Raphinha, Lewandowski.
Subs: Szczesny, Kochen, Araujo, Gavi, Torres, Rashford, Casado, Olmo, Cortes, Espart, Marques, Bardghji.
Newcastle United: Ramsdale, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Ramsey, Tonali, Joelinton, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.
Subs: Pope, Ruddy, Harris, Botman, Wissa, Osula, Livramento, Jacob Murphy, Woltemade, Willock, Alex Murphy, Neave.
Referee: Francois Letexier (France).
Preamble
How costly will Lamine Yamal’s late, late, late equaliser in last week’s first leg prove to be? Because the thing is, Barcelona have only lost two of their 37 home matches against English clubs and are unbeaten against them in 14, ever since Craig Bellamy rocked up to play a little golf back in 2007. History isn’t Newcastle United’s friend here.
Or is it?! And that’s because Newcastle have lost only one of their last ten Champions League matches; have lost the second leg in only one of their last ten European ties, winning seven; and have won two of the three European ties in which they drew the first leg at home. Throw in Barca’s habit this season of suffering some really big off-days – beaten 4-1 by Sevilla, 3-0 by Chelsea, 4-0 by Atletico Madrid – plus Newcastle having the personnel to bother Hansi Flick’s gung-ho high line, and Eddie Howe’s men won’t be going to Camp Nou without hope. Kick-off is at 5.45pm GMT. It’s on!
