Newcastle United were thrashed 7-2 by Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League knockout tie
Anthony Elanga of Newcastle United competes for the ball with Joao Cancelo of FC Barcelona
Anthony Elanga of Newcastle United competes for the ball with Joao Cancelo of FC Barcelona(Image: 2026 Quality Sport Images)
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Newcastle United could have avoided the 'pummelling' they received at the hands of Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday night, had they been awarded a penalty for Joao Cancelo's challenge on Anthony Elanga.
That is the view of former Blackburn Rovers and Celtic forward Chris Sutton, who believes it could have changed the whole complexion of the tie.
Sutton was commentating on the game for BBC Radio 5Live and was captivated by an 'enthralling' first half at the Camp Nou. Elanga twice brought Newcastle level after falling behind to goals from Raphinha and Marc Bernal and he was exploiting Barcelona's high defensive line at will.
And with Newcastle in the ascendancy in the first half, Elanga got in behind Cancelo and was pulled back in the penalty area. Referee Francois Letexier decided it wasn't worthy of a penalty kick and that was a decision Sutton wholly disagreed with.
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"On the face of it you would look at the scoreline over two legs and you would think Newcastle had been pummelled by Barcelona over the two games," Sutton told BBC Radio 5Live.
"That wasn't the case. They were pummelled by Barcelona for one half of football. Newcastle gave such a good account of themselves.
"I was interested to see how Eddie Howe set up against Barcelona and he was bold in the approach in terms of Newcastle pressing Barcelona high, going man for man and getting after them.
"I think that approach, you take a risk doing that because Barcelona have some brilliant attacking players, they are technically proficient and they are good at what they do
"The first half was so enthralling. Barcelona taking the lead on a couple of occasions but Newcastle always looked a threat with that front three. Maybe not Gordon so much centrally but Barnes off the left-hand side and Elanga off the right and that space in behind which Barcelona give you with the way that they hold their high line.
"Newcastle exploited that brilliantly in the first half and were unlucky to go in 3-2 down because at 2-2 there was a moment where Elanga got beyond Cancelo, I thought it was a penalty. It was a big moment.
Newcastle winger Anthony Elanga was not awarded a penalty after a challenge from Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo
Newcastle winger Anthony Elanga was not awarded a penalty after a challenge from Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo(Image: 2026 Newcastle United)
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"On another day if Newcastle get the penalty, score it and go 3-2 up, the atmosphere inside the Nou Camp would have been completely different.
"But it wasn't, Barcelona got a penalty and how Kieran Trippier stayed on the pitch when he tugged back Raphinha when he looked like he was certain to tap the ball in, Newcastle were fortunate in that sense to keep 11 players on the pitch."
And the game flipped on the stroke of half-time when Trippier was penalised for pulling back Raphinha. Lamine Yamal converted the penalty to give the hosts a 3-2 lead at half-time and it sucked any momentum Newcastle had built in the game.
In 16 second half minutes a brace from Robert Lewandowski and a Fermin Lopez goal took the game away from Newcastle before Raphinha added his second goal of the evening to put the seal on a resounding 7-2 win.
And Sutton felt it was a 'sorry ending' to what had been a competitive tie and a solid run for United in this season's Champions League.
"Yamal tucked the penalty away and then second half I always thought Newcastle would run out of steam but Barcelona wiped the floor with them in the first 15 to 20 minutes of the second half," Sutton added.
"Then it was just a case of white flag, another centre-half for Newcastle and trying to keep the score down. That was a sad ending and a sorry ending from a side who gave so much in the first half.
"But when you are at this level, and this is the top level in Europe, they can do that to you, Barcelona."
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