Barcelona striker Marcus Rashford scored two sensible targets to burst Newcastle’s bubble on their return to the Champions League.
Regardless of dominating early on, the hosts couldn’t flip that right into a lead and so they have been punished by man-of-the-match Rashford within the second half, earlier than Anthony Gordon pulled one again within the ninetieth minute.
Our chief soccer reporter, Craig Hope, was there to carry you his ideas…
Rashford’s radiant return
Oh how Newcastle may have completed with Rashford of their XI. He produced the sport’s first second of predatory intuition simply earlier than the hour and adopted it up with a stupendous strike 10 minutes later – and with that Barcelona have been the winners.
Rashford was not a menace in the identical approach Anthony Elanga was for Newcastle. However what Rashford had was end-product when it mattered. This night time, again in his house nation, ought to show vastly vital for his future with each Barcelona and England. He was the difference-maker. Newcastle, in contrast, had none.
It was Marcus Rashford’s night time for Barcelona at St James’ Park on Thursday night
The guests ran out 2-1 winners thanks to 2 targets from the Englishman
Howe’s Woltemade mistake
If Nick Woltemade had began, Newcastle would have received. It was a daring name by Eddie Howe to not play his £69million striker on the again of his match-winning debut on the weekend – and the Newcastle boss acquired it flawed.
By resting the German, Howe reverted to a entrance three of Elanga, Gordon and Harvey Barnes, who had not scored a aim this season. And so, to no-one’s shock, Newcastle have been all bark and no chew throughout a primary half through which they began quick earlier than fading. That’s what occurs when promise leads nowhere.
Too little, too late
Elanga loved his greatest 45 minutes by far since his £55m summer season arrival however, with out a striker to revenue from his good work, possibilities got here and went, most notably when Gordon swung at contemporary air from Elanga’s cut-back. It introduced house simply how massive a blow the lack of Yoane Wissa to a knee harm is for Newcastle. The £55m striker is not going to make his debut for one more month not less than.
However they nonetheless had sufficient moments and territory to take what would have been a deserved lead – and they might have completed, with a striker on the pitch.
Woltemade arrived with Barca 1-0 up, however by then it was an hour too late. Howe stated afterwards he has to handle his minutes and, whereas that’s proper, this felt like a chance missed – fairly actually at instances!
Eddie Howe made the peculiar resolution to depart out new striker Nick Woltemade
Anthony Elanga in the meantime had his greatest sport up to now in a Newcastle shirt
Anthony Gordon’s aim on the loss of life was in the end too little too late for the Magpies
Murphy’s despair
Simply as stunning as the choice to not play Woltemade was Jacob Murphy popping out of the aspect. Sure, his substitute Elanga did properly, however Murphy was super in the course of the 1-0 win over Wolves on Saturday, creating the aim for Woltemade. I believed Murphy and Woltemade may emerge as the brand new Keith Gillespie and Tino Asprilla right here!
Alas, Murphy was very unfortunate to not characteristic from the off and laid on the aim for Gordon after his introduction. To be honest, Howe says he’s nursing an achilles downside, however Murphy is the kind who would have risen to this event regardless.
Why the sport did NOT match the large event
The event felt large, as massive because the tifo unfurled by Wor Flags from the East Stand roof earlier than kick-off. However did it really feel like an enormous sport, upon which the Champions League future of both aspect depended? No.
Now that will be true of the opening match even within the outdated group format, however this bloated model actually does rob these early contests of any actual jeopardy. There have been factors on provide, after all, however the relevance of occasions was extra vital from a membership folklore perspective than it was the immediacy of a 36-team league desk, through which 24 progress…
It was an enormous event at St James’ Park however one which lacked actual jeopardy
One space through which Howe thought he had few considerations was defence. Earlier than this sport, Newcastle had conceded only one aim all season with 11 males on the pitch. In golden oldies Nick Pope (33), Kieran Trippier (35), Fabian Schar (33), Dan Burn (33) – in addition to Tino Livramento (22) – Howe has a settled, skilled and wily again 5. Nonetheless, in opposition to elite sides corresponding to Barcelona possibly they do want some youthful legs to see out a full match. They have been nice for an hour…
One level Howe was requested to clear up afterwards, although, was why Schar stayed on the pitch after a whack to the pinnacle. Moments later he misplaced Rashford for the primary aim. The Newcastle boss stated he was informed by medical employees that Schar was nice to proceed.
