Newcastle United have the opportunity to make history when they take on Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the Champions League this evening
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe talks to his players at the Camp Nou ahead of facing Barcelona in the Champions League
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe talks to his players at the Camp Nou ahead of facing Barcelona in the Champions League (Image: AFP or licensors)
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After six-and-a-half months of a relentless season that has seen Newcastle United play 49 matches - more than any other club in European football - their success or failure could well boil down to the next five days.
Newcastle take on Barcelona in the 50th game of a gruelling campaign and given what is at stake it is by far the most important match so far. They then welcome fierce rivals Sunderland to St James' Park for the Tyne-Wear derby on Sunday.
Should they emerge from the home of the Spanish champions with a victory, they would create history as the first Newcastle side to reach the quarter finals of the Champions League.
The financial benefits of that would be huge but it would feel like a statement win for Eddie Howe in a season that has been plagued by inconsistency.
By going to the Camp Nou and winning, it would end any nagging doubts over his future and give Newcastle genuine belief they can go on to achieve something special in the competition.
Atletico Madrid or Tottenham would await in the quarter-finals and they would be just four matches and two rounds away from the final in Budapest on May 30.
But to do that they will have to be punch perfect against a Barcelona side whose home record at the Camp Nou is absolutely phenomenal.
Since returning to their famous home ground, Barcelona have won all 12 of their matches across all competitions. Sunday's 5-2 win over Sevilla was the seventh in a row of those matches where they have scored three or more goals.
The task facing Newcastle is huge but not insurmountable. One Barcelona reporter I spoke to last week described winning the Champions League as an 'obsession' to Hansi Flick's side and the fact it is now 11 years since they last raised the European Cup weighs heavily on their players.
Newcastle will take huge heart from their performance in the first leg last week at St James' Park. The Magpies' pace up front exposed Barcelona's high backline and with a bit more ruthlessness in front of goal they could have taken a handy lead over to Catalonia.
As it is, they will go there with a 1-1 draw in hand after Lamine Yamal's stoppage time penalty cancelled out Harvey Barnes' late opener.
It was a clash of styles at St James' Park. Barcelona's technical brilliance versus Newcastle's intense pressing. United showed they had the style to hurt Barcelona. The next challenge is to beat them.
Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes celebrates scoring against Barcelona with Jacob Ramsey and Tino Livramento
Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes celebrates scoring against Barcelona with Jacob Ramsey, Jacob Murphy and Tino Livramento(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)
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Twice they have tried on Tyneside and, ultimately, twice they have failed. But the confidence they have taken from both performances has been huge and that has only been amplified by Saturday's brilliant 1-0 win away at Chelsea.
Anthony Gordon's first half goal put the seal on an almost faultless away performance to seal a vital win that has put the Magpies back in the European mix.
It may have taken a while but Howe feels Newcastle are 'peaking at the right time'.
"The players are probably as confident as they have been at any stage this season," Howe said in his pre-match press conference.
"I think our recent performances have been really strong. The individuals in our team are performing at a really high level so hopefully we're peaking at the right time but we need everything to go our way tomorrow.
"We don't underestimate the size of the task but we believe in ourselves at the same time."
That belief is palpable. Jacob Murphy has spoken about giving Barcelona a 'war'. Harvey Barnes told Chronicle Live last week it was their game plan to make it 'ugly' and 'horrible' for them. The players are undoubtedly buying into the manager's message that tonight's game is what they have built towards during their four years together as a group under him.
Newcastle couldn't buy an away win in the first half of the season but they have now won four of their last five matches on the road. What was once a crippling weakness has become an undeniable strength.
Their win at Chelsea set the template they need to replicate at the Camp Nou this evening. Defensively resolute, relentless in their pressing and taking their opportunity in front of goal when it is presented.
If they do that, they will not only write a new bit of club history but it will give them an almighty platform to build on heading into a derby game with Sunderland where Newcastle will seek redemption for their dreadful December defeat at the Stadium of Light.
Two wins in the next five days will set up Newcastle for one of the most exciting finishes to a season in recent memory. Lose them, particularly the derby, and the consequences could be stark.
The stage is set and opportunity knocks in Barcelona. It is up to the Magpies' players to seize it.
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