He won’t have said it, but Barcelona’s boss would have almost certainly been relieved to trail by just a single goal ahead of next week’s Champions League round of 16 second leg at the Nou Camp.
Newcastle looked set to have earned that advantage they deserved after Harvey Barnes’ 86th minute opener, a reward for a stirring and brilliant display from the Magpies.
But beyond the fourth added minute of stoppage time, substitute Dani Olmo was brought down by Malick Thiaw and Yamal made no mistake from the penalty spot.
What will frustrate Newcastle even more is the fact Yamal shouldn’t be available for next week’s second leg. The teenager should have received a yellow card that would have resulted in a suspension for a clear first half foul on Lewis Hall, who was immense. There can’t be many left-backs on the planet better than Newcastle’s, who showed here that he belongs at the highest level.
But Newcastle too showed they belong on this stage. Eddie Howe this week called on his players to write themselves into the history books and establish themselves as heroes. They still can.
They won’t head for the Nou Camp with an advantage but they’ll go armed with real hope. And belief. Barcelona managed one shot on target prior to Yamal’s equaliser.
Barcelona were last on Tyneside only six months ago but that league phase encounter wasn’t the one being talked about ahead of Tuesday night’s game.
Instead, memories flooded back to 1997 and to a game that took place almost 30 years ago but still feels like yesterday to all those in attendance and all those associated with the Magpies. The famous 3-2 win over Barcelona on that September night has since remained a reminder of what is possible. Here was another.
Howe’s stirring pre-match message got through. The Magpies were immense.
Anthony Gordon so often rises to games and occasions like this but the forward – outscored by only Kylian Mbappe in the Champions League this season – found himself sat on the bench, the latest victim of the sickness bug that has lingered in the Newcastle camp of late.
The fact Howe was forced into a rethink and change to his starting XI on the day of the game went a long way to explaining the selection of Will Osula, the closest thing to Gordon, but that a striker who hardly got a kick last season and started the campaign as fourth choice got the nod over the duo signed in the summer for £125m was telling. Less than 60 seconds had been played when Osula galloped towards Joan Garcia and forced the Barcelona keeper to rush a clearance. The striker was up for it.
As were his ten teammates. Anthony Elanga won a corner inside 90 seconds and roared to the crowd. Newcastle won a second corner inside two and a half minutes, by which stage Flick was already complaining to the fourth official about the home side’s physicality.
Garcia made a superb low save to push Elanga’s shot around his right post. The flag was raised but the winger was onside and the goal would have stood. Ramsdale didn’t have a save to make in the first half an hour but the loanee – again preferred to Nick Pope – and Dan Burn were relieved to see the ball flash just wide of the left post after the defender turned a Raphinha cross towards his own goal.
Barcelona had settled but with possession and territory would come opportunities for Newcastle on the counter. Elanga over Jacob Murpy was a wise shout with Barcelona’s high line in mind and the summer recruit was a threat all night until his second half withdrawal. Osula met his cross from the right but couldn’t keep his header down then failed to meet another cross that was inches too far in front of the stretching striker.
Barcelona started to find more room in the Newcastle half but attacks were breaking down. Yamal did tease one delivery in from the right that was headed high and unconvincingly turned behind by Ramsdale. Robert Lewandowski, a spectator for the most part, had the best chance of the game at the midway point of the second half but fired wide from inside the box after being teed up by Raphinha.
That sparked Howe into changes, Gordon, Tino Livramento and Jacob Murphy introduced with the latter immediately spurning a good opportunity when he volleyed over from a great position inside the box.
Newcastle got closer. Gordon raced behind and teed up Barnes who saw his curling effort come back off the inside of the post and Joelinton saw the offside flag after turning in the rebound.
Barnes thought he’d won it for Newcastle but there was a last gasp twist, the latest example of the Magpies failing to see games out.