Newcastle United v Barcelona Champions League preview

Shields Gazette

Dominic Scurr previews Newcastle United's Champions League clash against Barcelona at St James' Park.

Transcript

00:00here outside st james's park where these steps these turnstiles will be very busy in a few

00:06hours time as newcastle hosts barcelona in the champions league feels good to say it's something

00:12newcastle ideally want to be getting used to and it is the fifth time they've played barcelona in

00:18the champions league it's where their champions league journey started almost 28 years ago to the

00:23day it was 28 years ago this week tino aspria scored that hat-trick in the 3-2 win against

00:29barcelona newcastle's first ever champions league group stage game and look two years ago newcastle

00:34win the champions league their first home game in the competition then the secure had a memorable

00:404-1 win against paris san germain here at st james's park and that's probably what you look at

00:47newcastle's previous champions league campaigns characterized by moments rather than actual

00:53success you go back 20 odd years it's that fine old 3-2 win or you go back to 97 98 to the barcelona

01:01win a couple years ago it's psg and i think that psg win 4-1 has probably given newcastle a bit of a

01:10reputation don't be underestimated st james's park can consume you as an opposing side and newcastle can

01:16beat any team on their day but that's not really what this is about in terms of the champions league

01:24this season barcelona will provide a very tough test for newcastle the champions of spain they

01:28were unlucky not to win this competition last year they've won it five times in the past but in

01:34reality what matters this season and eddie howe echoed it in his press conference yesterday as much

01:40as hansie flick and andres christensen the former chelsea defender barcelona defender said this is

01:46one of the best atmospheres in england and you've got to be wary of it eddie howe spoke about learning

01:51lessons from the last champions league campaign and as much as the win over paris san germain was a high

01:58it was a one-off game it was a one-off moment and newcastle need to start demonstrating if they want

02:03to reach the latter stages of these competitions they need to show that now that consistency to not just

02:09beat barcelona in a one-off game but over the next eight games seven eight games actually show

02:16that consistency that gets them out the group that gets them into the knockout stages of the

02:21champions league for the first time so eddie howe has some selection decisions to make you're looking

02:26at the team anthony gordon back available from suspension for this game only and then suspended

02:32again for the premier league match against bournemouth on sunday but does he come straight back in i'd argue

02:38he does harvey barnes has had minimal impact so far this season and anthony gordon will be looking to

02:43make his mark on the champions league on the opposite side jacob murphy or anthony alanga that's a debate

02:49that was thrown to eddie howe yesterday in the press conference and to be honest my personal opinion

02:54i'd keep jacob murphy and he made an impact against wolves with the assist on saturday you know what you're

03:01going to get from jacob murphy and anthony alanga is still in that bedding in process which is something

03:06eddie howe recognized in his pre-match press conference so that's how i'd have me wingers

03:12leading the line nick valtemar there's no real other option and he definitely put himself at the

03:18forefront of eddie howe's thoughts in terms of who is going to be leading the line given his performance

03:22against wolves his goal on saturday albeit taken off midway through the second half cramped up which

03:29is something eddie howe and bruno gimmerais both referenced then nick valtemar himself referenced

03:35getting up to speed and then his three games in the space of a week too demanding for him

03:39ultimately these big games his champions league debut i would not take that away from him i'd put

03:45him straight in from the start and hope he swims like he did on saturday it field i think picks

03:52itself bruno sandro tonali and joe linton if everyone is indeed fit defense i'd keep the same

03:58again they've kept three clean sheets in four premier league games i would have maybe introduced lewis

04:03hole on saturday against wolves but eddie howe didn't i think throwing him against barcelona

04:09after so long without playing or starting games would probably be too big an ask tino livermento

04:15at left back here and trip your right back dan burn and fabian share as your two center backs and nick

04:20pope in goal that's what i'd like to see from newcastle tonight the team news will be confirmed at about seven

04:26o'clock this evening where i'd expect st james's park to be looking quite a bit busier than it is right now and you

04:32can follow all the coverage all the build up to this match and all the reaction to it just as the

04:37wind picks up here outside st james's park over on the shieldsgazette.com just as the atmosphere is

04:44building up you can see the sir bobby robson statue behind me there manager of both clubs sir bobby

04:50robson darby if you like he's wearing a half and half scarf which say what you want about these half and

04:55half scoffs it's an occasion for newcastle united and hopefully they can get the job done tonight eddie howe and

05:01his side cheers

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