Newcastle United take on Barcelona at the Nou Camp this evening in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie. Kick-off is at 5:45pm live on TNT Sports.
The two sides go into the game on level terms after Newcastle were cruelly denied a well-earned win on home turf thanks to a super late Lamine Yamal penalty.
Losing the lead in such a way was a devastating sucker-punch, but the confidence that Newcastle can take away from that performance, which was then built on at Stamford Bridge at the weekend, should put the Magpies in a good place going into this game.
Eddie Howe had some big calls to make with his starting lineup after an illness had been doing the rounds in the squad. Additionally, there were calls to make on experience versus youth.
Newcastle XI: Ramsdale – Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Ramsey, Tonali, Joelinton – Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.
Substitutes: Pope, Ruddy, Harris, Botman, Livramento, AMurphy, Willock, JMurphy, Woltemade, Wissa,Osula, Neave
OUT: Livramento, Botman, Willock, Woltemade, Murphy. IN: Trippier, Burn, Tonali, Joelinton, Elanga.
As we predicted, Eddie Howe has leaned on his experienced players to see the lads through this round, bringing in Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn at the back in five changes to Saturday’s 1-0 win at Chelsea.
Aaron Ramsdale keeps his place in the team with Trippier and Burn joined by Malick Thiaw and Lewis Hall at the back.
Sandro Tonali and Joelinton start with Jacob Ramsey in the middle and then it’s pure pace up front with Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes flanking Anthony Gordon.
Barcelona XI: JoanGarcia – EricGarcia, Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Cancelo – Marc Bernal, Pedri – LamineYamal, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha – Lewandowski
Lamine Yamal, who broke Geordie hearts last week, starts again for Barcelona along with Fermin Lopez. Both Barca players should have been suspended for this game after escaping yellow cards for two blatant fouls last week.
Newcastle definitely have what it takes to go up against this team; we can absolutely do it again. The difference tonight is going ot be the Nou Camp atmosphere.
If Newcastle can get to grips with that, then they already know they have enough to cause this Barcelona side problems.
Elsewhere, Eric Garcia has replaced Ronald Araujo at right-back, as the Spanish media predicted.
HOWAY EDDIE HOWE’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MAGS!