Barcelona advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 7-2 (8-3 aggregate) win over Newcastle United.
Newcastle started the game well, but when the ball broke to Raphinha in the visiting team’s box in the fifth minute, the former Leeds forward fired past Aaron Ramsdale to open the scoring. But Newcastle levelled just 10 minutes later, with Anthony Elanga latching onto a fine ball from the left before firing past Joan Garcia. Barcelona took the lead again just two minutes later, though, as Marc Bernal converted following a Raphinha free-kick. But Elanga equalised once again in the 28th minute, meeting a low cross at the back post to fire home.
The game swung in Barcelona’s favour again, though, just before the break. Kieran Trippier committed a foul on Raphinha in the box, with referee Francois Letexier giving a penalty after a video assistant referee check. Lamine Yamal then scored the subsequent spot kick to give his team the advantage.
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After half-time, though, Barcelona ran away with the game. Fermin Lopez scored in the 51st minute before Robert Lewandowski headed in a Raphinha corner in the 56th minute. Lewandowski added another in the 61st minute, and then Raphinha capped an excellent night with his second goal in the 72nd minute.
Here, The Athletic’s experts George Caulkin, Chris Waugh and Dermot Corrigan break down a huge victory for Barcelona.
Are Barcelona Champions League contenders?
“I think we could win this season’s Champions League, but we also need to improve,” Barca coach Hansi Flick said at the press conference before this second leg.
The German is not an easy man to please — after last weekend’s 5-2 La Liga win over Sevilla, he had immediately complained about his team’s attitude and intensity in his post-match interview.
But Flick must have been happy with the awesome attacking display tonight — especially how his three front-line attackers all contributed, Raphinha returning to sharpness, Lewandowski also scoring again after a recent quiet spell, and Yamal firing so exceptionally.
There were moments tonight which also showed why their coach has concerns, though — such as the loose defending which allowed Newcastle to keep coming back into it during the first half, and also a lack of crisp passing and movement in midfield before the game opened up, which meant their play often lacked the fluidity of other days.
It was those defensive issues and the ability of opponents to disrupt them which cost Barca in last year’s super dramatic semi-final against Inter Milan, and so far this season, anyway, Flick’s team are arguably less compact than they were 12 months ago. The injury to goalkeeper Joan Garcia late on will also be a worry — given the first choice has had a tremendously impressive season, while Wojciech Szczesny has barely played this year.
The draw was also relatively kind to Barca — and they will fancy their chances against Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals, assuming they advance past Spurs. It must be said, though, that Diego Simeone’s team did eliminate the Catalans in the Copa del Rey semis a few weeks ago. Arsenal could potentially then be waiting in the semis.
This was still a statement performance from Barcelona, and such a hammering of a Premier League opponent will always build confidence and raise expectations at the Camp Nou and around Europe.
The chances are Flick will not be getting carried away, though, and will press home to his players how they still need to improve if they are to go all the way in the competition this year and win a first Champions League title since 2015.
Dermot Corrigan
Bernal celebrates his goal on Wednesday night (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Where does this defeat leave Newcastle ahead of the Tyne-Wear derby?
There will be no let-up for Newcastle. Not yet.
For 50 minutes or so, Howe’s players gave as good as they got, trading blows with a footballing superpower in one of the world’s great sporting arenas. It was compelling, competitive, quick, brutal.
Within another quarter-hour, Newcastle were flailing on the canvas. They were punch-drunk and defeated, with the scoreline telling a story of abject humiliation. Over three-quarters of this two-legged tie, they could arguably consider themselves the better team, but when it truly mattered, their defending was calamitous, and they fell apart.
This season has been epic. No team in Europe’s top-five leagues have played more matches than Newcastle and fatigue has been an ever-present companion, but now that they have exited their last knockout competition, a break is coming.
Not yet, though. It cannot be yet.
On Sunday, Newcastle host Sunderland at St James’ Park, and if there is any fixture which does not permit a footballing hangover, it is that one. Newcastle need to be alert, fresh and up for it, qualities which deserted them in the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light in December. In the Tyne-Wear derby, mitigation does not matter a jot.
Newcastle’s run in the Champions League has been a blast. There was an excellent draw away to Paris Saint-Germain, some great trips, and they reached the round of 16 for the first time in their history. For the first-half against Barcelona, they dared to dream.
George Caulkin
Did Yamal show his class and character after difficult moments?
One of the many compelling things about Lamine Yamal is that even when things do not seem to be going his way, Barca’s teenage superstar always seems to make sure they work out for him, especially in the biggest, most high-profile occasions.
Yamal made a key contribution to Barca’s opening goal, drifting into the centre of the pitch to offer a passing option out from the back, and then brilliantly turning and driving at the Newcastle defence, spreading the ball to Fermin Lopez, who set up Raphinha to score.
But there was a while tonight when it seemed that a really silly mistake could end up being his most important contribution to the game — when his very risky back-heel in his own half went straight to Newcastle’s Lewis Hall. Seconds later, Newcastle had equalised to make it 2-2.
The teenager quickly appeared very determined to make amends — despite his tender years, he is already a leader in the team — and was not afraid to show frustration when Lewandowski (19 years his senior) messed up what seemed a simple pass inside the Newcastle penalty area as Barca looked to get back in front.
Next came a tremendous run by Yamal, past three Newcastle defenders, which again opened up the visitors’ defence. Having continued into the penalty area, he seemed sure to take advantage when Raphinha’s shot was saved, but somehow skied his shot into the crowd from six yards.
Yamal and Raphinha celebrate during Wednesday’s game (Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Again, there was a moment when it seemed the miss might prove important, but it wasn’t to be. When Barca won a penalty a few minutes later, it was Yamal who stepped up. He has taken over as Barca’s penalty taker this season — ahead of Lewandowski and Raphinha, who are both experts too — showing his status as the undisputed star of the team.
And just like late in the first leg, there were zero nerves on show with a super cool conversion, followed by an elaborate celebration, milking the moment as the biggest stars are able to do.
That made it 10 Champions League strikes already for Yamal, equalling Real Madrid galactico Kylian Mbappe’s record for the most goals scored in the competition before turning 19.
Yamal also played his part as Barca accelerated away from Newcastle after the break, feinting away from two challenges from already defeated-looking defenders, and then rolling the pass perfectly for Lewandowski to make it 6-2.
A night which seemed at times might go bad for Barca’s young superstar ended up as yet another standout demonstration of both his character and talent.
Dermot Corrigan
Is Raphinha hitting form at the right moment?
Barcelona seemed surprised by Newcastle’s fast start, being used to teams coming to the Camp Nou and sitting deep to defend. But after six minutes, they were in front — the chance was created by a razor sharp move involving Pedri, Yamal and Fermin Lopez slicing through the Newcastle defence, and Raphinha then applying a super confident and cool finish, sending an unstoppable low shot to the bottom corner from 10 yards.
Amid all the helter-skelter action, Raphinha was regularly involved and often caused Newcastle trouble. It was his free kick delivery which — helped by Newcastle’s defending — led to Marc Bernal putting Barca 2-1 ahead.
At 2-2, the Brazilian also might have gone himself when he picked up a loose ball near halfway and drove straight at an exposed Newcastle defence. But he unselfishly laid off to Lewandowski, and the Polish veteran’s shot was blocked by the covering Dan Burn.
With the action coming thick and fast Raphinha’s fierce cross-shot was beaten out by Newcastle keeper Aaron Ramsdale, but neither Lewandowski nor Lamal could take advantage of the almost open goal.
Not to be denied, Raphinha then won the penalty for 3-2 — he was too sharp and fast for Kieran Trippier, and the Newcastle right-back felt he had no option but to risk the shirt tug, which Raphinha’s protests made sure the VAR officials picked up.
Soon after half-time, Raphinha made yet another crucial contribution — with his first-time pass around the corner behind the Newcastle defence sending Fermin Lopez clear to convert past Ramsdale. Raphinha then added another assist for Robert Lewandowski’s header. And he bagged a second goal for himself after capitalising on a Newcastle mistake to strike in the 72nd minute.
So far, 2025-26 has not been as good for the former Leeds star as last year — when his 34 goals and 26 assists in 57 appearances as Barcelona won the domestic treble led many (including Raphinha himself) to believe he deserved more recognition at last autumn’s Ballon D’Or awards.
The current campaign has not been more stop-start, with troublesome muscle issues keeping him out for some games, and his general form and sharpness not quite the same.
But the 29-year-old hit a hat-trick in Sunday’s La Liga 5-2 win over Sevilla, and tonight brought him up to 19 goals and eight assists in 30 games this term. It might be that Raphinha is hitting form just as Barcelona edge towards the business end of the season.
Dermot Corrigan
Has showing Elanga love had the desired impact?
Two months ago, Howe was pleading with Newcastle supporters to show Elanga some “love.”
At that point, Elanga’s summer £55million transfer from Nottingham Forest had not gone to plan. There had been no goals in the Premier League and one assist. He had shown plenty of pace with no end product. It sounds desperately harsh, but he did not look like much of a footballer.
When the winger came onto the pitch in the 69th minute of Newcastle’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, there had been audible muttering inside St James’ Park.
“My big wish is that he plays in an environment where he feels safe and free to express himself,” Howe told reporters a couple of days later and, to their credit, Newcastle fans responded. There was a concerted effort to shower the 23-year-old with encouragement, and, in turn, his form has picked up.
Fast forward a few weeks, and the love is coming naturally to Elanga, who saved his most decisive performance in a Newcastle shirt for the biggest occasion imaginable. Finally, he had pace with a devastating purpose.
A breakneck first-half brought two goals for Elanga. In the 15th minute, Newcastle broke down the left and Lewis Hall played a brilliant ball to the right. Elanga shot back across goal to score. His second was all about great positioning, lurking at the far post to meet a cross from Harvey Barnes.
In doing so, Elanga became only the second play to score twice for an English club in the Champions League at Camp Nou, following Manchester United’s Dwight Yorke in 1998. While the result turned against Newcastle, a slow-burn affair is now raging.
George Caulkin
How Newcastle’s defending let them down
For 45 minutes, Newcastle gave as good as they got in attack. If anything, they were actually more dangerous than Barcelona during the first half, with the blistering pace of Elanga, Harvey Barnes and Lewis Hall causing real problems for the home side.
But defensively, Newcastle were woeful at times. For Barcelona’s first, Dan Burn and Hall both slipped over, for the second, Trippier failed to track his marker from a set piece, while the right-back then pulled back Raphinha for the penalty on the stroke of half-time.
After the break, Newcastle collapsed inside 16 minutes.
For the fourth, Sandro Tonali failed to follow Lopez’s run from midfield, then Lewandowski was able to power in a header from a corner after getting above Tino Livramento, before Yamal danced through Newcastle and slotted a pass through to the Polish striker, which Malick Thiaw should have cut out.
Newcastle were so defensively solid against Chelsea on Saturday, but they reverted to previous form at Camp Nou. They had gone 14 straight matches in all competitions without a clean sheet before Stamford Bridge, while it is now just four shutouts in 34.
Once Barcelona scored their sixth goal, Howe attempted to shore things up, sending on Sven Botman and reverting to a back five. The game was long lost, but he tried to avoid the scoreline becoming truly embarrassing. Unfortunately, Ramsey tried to play a blind crossfield ball across his own box, which Raphinha pounced upon to finish.
As encouraging as Newcastle’s attacking was for 45 minutes, their defending for 90 was disastrous. It was the first time they have conceded seven-plus goals in a game since their 7-3 loss to Arsenal in December 2012, and the joint-most ever by an English team in a major European game, with Tottenham Hotspur also conceding seven against Bayern Munich in October 2019.
Chris Waugh
What did Flick say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What did Howe say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Newcastle?
Sunday, March 22: Sunderland (Home), Premier League, 12pm UK, 8am ET