Newcastle United 1-2 Barcelona: Joe Buck match reaction

Shields Gazette

Joe Buck reacts to Newcastle United's defeat against Barcelona in the Champions League. A brace from from Marcus Rashford sealed all three points for the Spanish side at St James' Park.

Transcript

00:00So, Newcastle United's Champions League campaign has began with a 2-1 defeat here against Barcelona.

00:08Now, Barcelona, you know, runner, sorry, semi-finalists in this competition last year.

00:13Spanish champions, one of the best teams in the world and, yeah, they just, they were just better than Newcastle on the day.

00:18I think Newcastle obviously came into the game, lots of, the atmosphere here was fantastic as it always is

00:23and I think there was a lot of hope that they could really build on that atmosphere like they did against PSG two years ago

00:28and really make the most of that first 20 minutes. Unfortunately, I just weren't able to do that.

00:34It was a surprise of the team sheet. Anthony Gordon is back in, that wasn't a surprise.

00:38He is obviously allowed to play in European competition after being suspended in Premier League.

00:43He came in, but Nick Valtemada dropped out instead of him. Anthony Langer also came in for Jacob Murphy on the right.

00:49So, that was a little bit of a surprise to see Valtemada not starting. I think the Newcastle, if Eddie Howe reflects on it,

00:53I think you'll probably not regret maybe not starting Valtemada,

00:57but I think you'll look back on that first 20 minutes where they create a number of chances

01:00and think maybe if they had a strike or a focal point in the team, maybe it would have been a bit different.

01:04But, you know, after the first sort of 15-20, Barcelona worked their way back into the game.

01:11Pedri and Frankie de Jong in particular were really good in midfield and, yeah,

01:16I think the first half was quite even. I think going in level was probably certainly the right, the fair result at that point.

01:22And then Barcelona sort of pressed on in the second half, Marcus Rashford with the header.

01:25Behind me, it was a brilliant first goal and the second goal was absolutely unbelievable.

01:28It was a strike from the edge of the box, cannons off the cross bottom in the back of the net.

01:32Very little Nick Paul could have done about that.

01:34And then Barcelona at that point, 2-0 up, looked to really kill the game.

01:38I think we've talked about Newcastle wanting to make that next step.

01:41Instead of making single nights here at St James' Park big, they want to make multiple nights

01:45and really, you know, string wins together and get that big win.

01:48And Barcelona showed the key to do that.

01:50They, you know, European Royalty for a reason, they were absolutely brilliant when they went 2-0 up.

01:54In particular, the last, you know, few minutes, they just held the ball.

01:58Eddie Howard admitted after the game, his side just couldn't get the ball off them.

02:01And Anthony going to give them hope with the late goal.

02:04Brilliant pass by Jacob Murphy and Anthony going to the back stick.

02:06Just sort of prod this home, but yeah, it was a real lesson today.

02:10I think Newcastle United will be disappointed.

02:12Of course they'll be disappointed, but they were beaten by the better team.

02:14Was this the best version of Newcastle United?

02:16Almost certainly not.

02:18Will there be some players that, you know, didn't necessarily impress?

02:22Yes, I think there was a few under-par performances.

02:25But yeah, Barcelona were just a level above Newcastle.

02:28And yeah, they'll lick their wounds.

02:29They've got Bournemouth to come on Sunday.

02:31You'd assume Waldemar would start there.

02:33I'd be a bit surprised to see him not play at night and then not start on Sunday.

02:36But they've really got to start winning games.

02:38You know, it's the second defeat at home this season.

02:40They beat Wolves on Saturday, of course.

02:41But then they got beat by Liverpool before the international break.

02:44So they really have to hit the ground running.

02:46Because, you know, the games come thick and fast.

02:48Yeah, they've got Bradford next week.

02:49But they've got Arsenal, Nottingham Forest to come in the Premier League

02:53before the next international break.

02:54Union, Saint-Giroir as well.

02:55So they have to really start getting wins.

02:57And today will be a lesson.

02:58They'll hope to build from it.

03:00And yeah, I think I'll do a video tomorrow really dissecting the game.

03:04I think a little bit more.

03:05But as I said right now, Newcastle will be disappointed by the fact

03:08they weren't able to make home advantage.

03:10But they've got seven more games.

03:12If you take the PSG one out of it, which is the final game,

03:14they've got six games.

03:15Eleven points was the benchmark they needed last year

03:17if they win the competition to go through.

03:19So that's what we'll be looking at.

03:20I think four home wins.

03:21I'm sorry, four more wins will do it.

03:23They've obviously got three more home games.

03:24So they'll hope to win all them three games

03:26and then try and get a win on the road somewhere.

03:28But yeah, Newcastle United, one past one or two.

03:30Not the best star for Eddie Howe in the side of the Champions League.

03:33But yeah, on to Bournemouth on Sunday.

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