Newcastle 1-1 Barcelona: Lamine Yamal scores penalty with final kick of sport to rescue draw for guests

Lamine Yamal’s penalty with the final kick of the sport rescued Barcelona a 1-1 draw in opposition to Newcastle at St James’ Park.

Harvey Barnes’ 86th-minute strike had put Newcastle heading in the right direction for a well-known victory over the LaLiga giants and a valuable benefit to take to the Nou Camp, however Malick Thiaw’s pointless problem on Dani Olmo deep into stoppage time handed Barca a late lifeline.

Yamal made no mistake from the spot, sending Aaron Ramsdale the flawed technique to give Barcelona the benefit within the last-16 tie forward of the second leg in Spain subsequent week.

The draw was harsh on Newcastle, who had loved the higher of the vast majority of the sport.

Will Osula may need obtained the hosts off to the proper begin after being performed in behind the guests’ defence by Lewis Corridor’s sixth-minute go, however he delayed his shot and Gerard Martin recovered to dam his try.

Ramsdale tipped Yamal’s drive into the side-netting as Barca started to make an impression on the sport, however it was Newcastle creating the higher moments as Osula headed simply over from Anthony Elanga’s cross after Dan Burn had picked out Kieran Trippier with a crossfield go.

After the break, Robert Lewandowski steered Raphinha’s 66th-minute cross simply vast at full stretch, whereas Barnes’ effort eight minutes later got here again off the woodwork as Joelinton turned the ball dwelling, however the Newcastle celebrations had been reduce brief because the objective was dominated out for offside.

With time working out Barnes was in the proper place on the proper time to transform substitute Jacob Murphy’s cross, however with seconds remaining, Olmo went down underneath Thiaw’s problem and Italian referee Marco Guida pointed to the spot as Yamal broke Newcastle hearts.

Howe: One among Newcastle’s greatest video games

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe to TNT Sports activities:

“I thought we were outstanding, a really, really good performance. We kept the intensity up. The moment at the end takes that in a negative light but one of our best performances.”

On Barcelona’s last-gasp penalty, he added: “I think it is soft but Malik makes contact.

“We had our form, there is not any approach we must always concede that objective. We are going to have a look at it however I do not need it to override the 93 minutes earlier than that, through which we had been high quality.

“I thought we had enough to score before we did. The game showed we are capable but we know we probably have to give more going to their stadium. We are capable of doing it but we will need to be at our very best.

“It’s my job to attempt to choose them up. We’ve got sadly had to try this a couple of occasions this season however our energy of character ought to by no means be doubtful. We will probably be prepared by the point the following sport comes spherical.

“We believe in ourselves and our capability and we have shown that today.”

‘Corridor locks down Yamal and possibly England’s left-back spot too’

Evaluation from Sky Sports activities’ Lewis Jones:

For Lewis Corridor, dealing with the scary brilliance of Lamine Yamal underneath the brightest lights within the Champions League knockouts was purported to be a frightening examination. As an alternative, it grew to become a declaration that he’s England’s greatest left-back. And by far.

If England’s left-back place was nonetheless an open debate forward of the World Cup, Corridor might have simply slammed the door shut.

Corridor delivered a efficiency of startling maturity and authority. Yamal barely had a kick, barring the decisive penalty with the ultimate motion of the sport. However Corridor could not do a lot about that.

His defending in opposition to Yamal alone would have been spectacular sufficient however Corridor’s efficiency had one other layer totally. When Newcastle surged ahead, Corridor grew to become their most harmful weapon.

Driving down the left with explosive tempo, he repeatedly turned defence into assault. Barcelona merely couldn’t deal with the mix of energy and precision in his ahead bursts.

His last ball was simply as spectacular as his defensive work.

5 possibilities created – greater than some other participant on the pitch – advised the story of a full-back enjoying with the boldness of a seasoned playmaker.

After locking down some of the harmful wingers in world soccer whereas producing probably the most possibilities within the match, the argument is turning into more durable to disregard.

Corridor is not only a contender anymore. He would possibly simply be England’s reply.

Story of the match in stats…

Newcastle prolong unbeaten run in Europe…

Newcastle prolonged their longest ever unbeaten run within the UEFA Champions League to 6 video games (gained three, drawn three) and have solely misplaced one in every of their final 10 matches within the competitors (gained six and drawn three).

Barcelona scored their forty seventh Champions League penalty, with solely Bayern Munich (51) and Actual Madrid (50) changing extra (excluding shootouts).

Solely Kylian Mbappe (14), Anthony Gordon (12) and Julian Alvarez (10) have been straight concerned in additional targets on this season’s Champions League than Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes (9 – six targets, three assists).

Newcastle team-mate Gordon (15 targets) is the one Englishman to attain extra for a Premier League staff this season in all competitions than Barnes (14).

Flick pleased with level at Newcastle

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, whose males gained 2-1 at St James’ Park within the first fixture of the group section again in September, confirmed flashes of their brilliance and finally emerged with one thing to indicate for his or her efforts.

Nonetheless, they had been underneath the cosh for lengthy intervals and had been joyful to depart on degree phrases.

Flick mentioned: “If you had asked me before the game with a 1-1, I was always happy.

“With the ball, we made not a superb sport. We misplaced too many balls, straightforward errors and that is what Newcastle solely desires. Once they get the ball, the transition they make is sweet, they’ve a whole lot of dynamic, very quick gamers, so it was not straightforward.

“But at the end, what I appreciated a lot from my team is that we defended together, the performance in defence was really good today.”

When are the knockout levels?

Spherical of 16 second legs: March 17-18
Quarter-finals: April 7-8 and 14-15
Semi-finals: April 28-29 and Could 5-6
Remaining: Could 30 (Puskas Area in Budapest, Hungary)