When Anthony Elanga equalised for the second time in the first half, Newcastle United‘s dream wasn’t just alive and well – it was thriving.
The Magpies had gone toe-to-toe with Barcelona yet again and this time at the Nou Camp of all places. Elanga, meanwhile, had tripled his goal tally for the Toon in the space of 28 minutes.
However, it quickly became apparent when Lamine Yamal slotted home his penalty to hand Barcelona a 3-2 lead before the break that Hansi Flick’s side were simply playing with their food.
What started as plucky underdogs on course for an upset turned into a steep football lesson for Eddie Howe and Newcastle. The Magpies were dismantled in a way that only Gary Neville will know back in England.
What went wrong for Newcastle against Barcelona?
Whether it was naive or brave, Howe didn’t shy away from the Barcelona challenge. Instead, his backline stepped up for large parts of the first half despite the danger that the speed of Raphinha, Fermin Lopez and Yamal can cause and did eventually cause.
In the opening exchanges, that higher line allowed Newcastle to set their press in similar fashion to the home leg. It allowed Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes to get up close and personal with Eric Garcia, beating him twice in a matter of minutes.
But it also allowed Flick’s side to pounce, taking advantage of Lewis Hall’s slip to hand Raphinha a crucial opening. It seemed to be the theme of a frantic first half. The two sides were almost playing a game of chicken as they pushed their lines higher, watching on as runners exploited the space, culminating in five goals between them.
Alas, all it took was one tweak at the break for Barcelona to take full control. It was a classic bait and switch from the hosts, who often dragged one of Dan Burn or Malick Thiaw, before playing in behind them. That second runner when Newcastle went man-to-man was the difference.
Yet, amid all of those tactical changes, Barcelona’s dominance stemmed from Kieran Trippier‘s mistake just before half-time. It simply set the tone on a night to forget.
Why Trippier must never start for Newcastle again
Trippier was the biggest victim when Newcastle decided to push higher in the first half. When the Magpies lost possession, he could only watch on as Raphinha raced to get on the end of what would have been a guaranteed goal. The right-back grabbed hold of the Brazilian in a fatal attempt to prevent the goal.
After a VAR check, the referee had no choice but to point to the spot. Trippier, meanwhile, was lucky to escape a red card. Hooked at half-time, it was one of the most disappointing displays from the fullback all season.
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Kieran Trippier vs Barcelona |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
45 |
|
Duel success |
0/4 |
|
Key Passes |
0 |
|
Dribbles |
0 |
|
Tackles |
0 |
To say that Trippier didn’t leave a scratch on Raphinha would be an understatement. By the end of the half, the former Leeds United man had opened the scoring and won the penalty to give his side the lead moments before the break.
With the Tyne-Wear derby coming up on Sunday, Howe now has a big decision to make. His side must dust themselves off quickly, before hoping to avoid a second defeat in the same season against their rivals.
It’s a game which simply has to see Tino Livramento start. After Trippier’s horror show in Barcelona, starting the veteran defender could result in far worse consequences than humiliation at the Nou Camp.
Livramento, back from a hamstring injury, averages more successful dribbles, more recoveries and is dribbled past almost once fewer per game than his teammate. Where Trippier has looked leggy at times, the 23-year-old has been as tireless as ever and is the future of the club. The elder statesman would be fortunate to start another game in black and white.
But for Livramento’s injury problems, he would have likely started in Barcelona and Newcastle may have endured a historic night for all the right reasons.
Toon star just had his worst ever game in a Newcastle shirt vs Barcelona
Newcastle United were humiliated by Barcelona 7-2 in their second leg showdown, with this Magpies star having his worst game to date under Eddie Howe.
