Newcastle United were thrashed 7-2 by Barcelona in the Camp Nou in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie
Newcastle United head Eddie Howe
Newcastle United head Eddie Howe(Image: James Marsh/Shutterstock)
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Newcastle United's valiant Champions League campaign came to a shuddering halt as they were hammered 7-2 by Barcelona in the second leg of their last 16 tie at the Camp Nou.
Despite Anthony Elanga scoring twice on Wednesday evening, two goals apiece from Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, as well as goals from Marc Bernal, Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez put Newcastle to the sword in a bruising reality check of where the club currently stands in world football.
For three halves out of four across the two legs, Newcastle were magnificent. Their front three exposed the frailties of Barcelona's high backline and the intensity of the midfield's pressing had Barcelona's technical talents second guessing themselves.
But Eddie Howe warned on the eve of the second leg that United had to be perfect to progress and when that intensity waned in the second half, they were mercilessly punished.
If Yamal's penalty on the stroke of half-time to give Barcelona a 3-2 lead, after Newcastle had twice already came from behind to level the game on the evening, didn't suck the life out of the Magpies, then three goals in 16 minutes at the start of the second half certainly did.
All of a sudden, Newcastle's man to man pressing wasn't as effective. Barcelona were dragging Newcastle players out of position and had the quality within two or three passes to exploit the spaces they left behind.
Fermin and Lewandowski both benefitted from it with their second half goals and within a matter of minutes, a tie that had appeared winnable was ripped out of United's grasp.
Newcastle went toe-to-toe with the Spanish champions for three quarters of their two-legged knockout tie. But, in what was their 50th game of a gruelling season, they couldn't maintain it for the final quarter on the huge pitch at the Camp Nou.
It felt brutal but then sometimes reminders of the levels Newcastle still need to race through to meet CEO David Hopkinson's goal of becoming one of the biggest clubs in world football by 2030 are going to be.
Barcelona are an elite football club, Newcastle aren't, and while the margins felt slim, the chasm in the scoreline certainly wasn't.
Barring a miraculous recovery in the final eight games of the season, Newcastle will miss out on Champions League football next season and the financial reward that brings. That chasm will only widen further next season, not shorten, particularly if one or two of the club's star players leave in the summer.
It is what makes the final eight matches of the Premier League season so important now. Newcastle are currently outside of the top eight in the Premier League that should be enough to secure European football next season.
With eight games remaining, United are seven points off fifth placed Liverpool and another run at Champions League football appears unlikely.
However, they are one point adrift of eighth placed Everton, who occupy the Europa Conference League spot provisionally and three points behind seventh placed Brentford.
Seventh should seal Europa League football next season, which would not only offer Newcastle a chance of winning a major trophy but a backdoor route into the Champions League by doing so as well.
European football has to be the minimum aim now if they are to retain their best talent and attract fresh quality to the club in the summer transfer window.
The psychological blow of the manner of their Champions League exit could be huge. They cannot allow a hangover to take hold, particularly as fierce rivals Sunderland make the 12-mile journey north to St James' Park for the first Tyne-Wear derby for 10 years on Sunday.
After defeat at the Stadium of Light in the reverse fixture, anything other than a win on home turf in retribution will be unacceptable. Howe's immediate task will be picking his players up ahead of that huge game on Sunday.
Win that game and Newcastle will have a huge platform to build on heading into the final seven league games of the season. Lose it and the consequences could be stark in a number of ways.
Howe is now entering four of the most important days of his managerial reign. How his side respond to being demolished in Barcelona will be definitive.
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