Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamalplaceholder image
Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal | Getty Images
Newcastle United will finally pit their wits against Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal on Tuesday.
Lamine Yamal sent Barcelona into battle with Newcastle United on a high note after he netted a 68th-minute winner against Athletic Club.
The 18-year-old superstar - already viewed as one of the world’s best and a future Ballon d’Or winner - missed September’s clash between the two sides. For many Toon fans, this was a bittersweet moment, with St James’ Park robbed of witnessing Lamal’s talents.
However, Newcastle now have a second - and third - chance of thwarting the Barca ace. Yamal is fit and firing again - scoring a left-footed curler to down Athletic last night to take his tally to 19 for the campaign.
Lamine Yamal sends post-match message
Posting on social media, Yamal wrote: “Thank you for last night, culers. We still have a lot to be excited about. VISCA EL BARCA SEMPRE!”
Barca established a four-point lead at the top of La Liga over their bitter rivals Real Madrid. The attention turns to the Champions League, with the Catalans making radical changes before another trip to Tyneside.
Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Pedri were left out as Hansi Flick aims to freshen his side ahead of the European showdown. Newcastle’s preparations were not as smooth after losing 3-1 at home to Manchester City.
Hansi Flick on Lamine Yamal
Barcelona boss Flick highlighted Yamal as the difference-maker who can produce a moment of magic to win games. He said: "He didn’t play his best game, but his goal decided it. When he has space, opportunities… he works on his game a lot in training. It’s good that in a situation he solves the game for you.”
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Eddie Howe makes Barcelona claim
Eddie Howe described the Barca fixture as the biggest in Newcastle’s history following the Man City defeat. He told reporters: “My focus is really short-term and it's trying to win the game that's in front of me and that's Barcelona in the Champions League.
“I think we have to be, as much as it's easy to be very negative in this moment and I understand we've gone out of the FA Cup but we have the biggest game in the club's history coming up in no time at all.
“We've got to get the players ready for that. We've got no time to dwell on this. We’ve never been in this position in the Champions League before,” Howe said. “And it's the best competition there is. So I think for obvious reasons, I think it's a massive game in our history. And we need to approach it that way.
“We need the supporters to think that way. And we need to try and find some energy from somewhere that will elevate our performance to a level that we've not seen before this season. Because I think that's the only way we'll get through.”
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