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NUFC player ratings v Barcelona: Two 3/10s & 'reckless' 4/10

The La Liga giants won 6-2 on the night following braces from Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha and goals Marc Bernal, Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez.

Anthony Elanga twice equalised for Newcastle in the first-half but they went into half-time 3-2 down after Kieran Trippier conceded a penalty that Yamal converted. In the second-half, Barca surged to victory.

Sandro Tonali returned from illness as Eddie Howe made five changes from Saturday’s 1-0 win at Chelsea in the Premier League.

Joe Willock made way for the Italian as Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Joelinton and Anthony Elanga came in for Tino Livramento, Sven Botman, Nick Woltemade and Jacob Murphy.

All square from the 1-1 draw at St James’ Park in the first leg, Raphinha put Barcelona ahead just six minutes in when a Lewis Hall slip allowed the winger to cut inside and find the bottom left corner.

Hall then made amends for his shaky start when he found Elanga for the equaliser in the 15th minute. But United were level for less than three minutes as Marc Bernal headed in.

The Magpies would equalise again when Lamine Yamal’s backheel fell straight to Hall, who found Harvey Barnes, whose low cross was then tapped in by Elanga at the back post.

But Newcastle shot themselves in the foot on the brink of half-time. Trippier conceded a penalty after being penalised for a shirt pull on Raphinha and Yamal stepped up to score his spot-kick, just like he did on Tyneside a week ago.

Barcelona extended their lead minutes into the second half when Fermin Lopez and Raphinha combined, with the former slotting the ball past Aaron Ramsdale.

If that wasn’t the tie over, then it was five minutes later when Robert Lewandowski got above substitute Tino Livramento to head home. It didn’t take long for the Polish striker to add his second and Barca’s sixth after latching onto a through ball by Lamine Yamal.

Raphina then added a seventh following an error from Jacob Ramsey.

Here are our Newcastle United player ratings:

1. GettyImages-2266700101

AFP via Getty Images

2. Barcelona's Portuguese defender #02 Joao Cancelo (R) vies for the ball with Newcastle United's English defender #02 Kieran Trippier during the UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg football match between FC Barcelona and Newcastle United at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

3. BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 18: Malick Thiaw, Sandro Tonali and Jacob Ramsey of Newcastle United looks dejected after Marc Bernal of FC Barcelona (not pictured) scores his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Barcelona and Newcastle United FC at Camp Nou on March 18, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Getty Images

4. Barcelona's Polish forward #09 Robert Lewandowski and Newcastle United's English defender #33 Dan Burn (R) fight for the ball during the UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg football match between FC Barcelona and Newcastle United at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Lluis GENE / AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

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