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00:00Barcelona have been here twice before,
00:1197 when Tino got his hat-trick,
00:13six years later with a team that included Patrick Kleiber and Xavi, among others.
00:19Local hero blasting around the stadium.
00:22Is there a local hero in black and white against Barcelona tonight?
00:27Well, Eddie Howe makes two changes from his weekend win against Wolves.
00:33He's left out striker Nick Voltamada despite his goal,
00:37and Jacob Murphy drops to the bench as well.
00:39Anthony Gordon's back in after his domestic suspension,
00:42and the summer signing Anthony Alanga returns as well.
00:45The majority of the team played in the Champions League
00:48the last time that Newcastle United were in it.
00:57There's the referee tonight, Glenn Nyberg from Sweden, joined by the captains.
01:05There's Ronald Araujo of Barcelona.
01:08And one of the most popular men in the building is about to join them,
01:11the Newcastle midfielder Bruno Gimaraes,
01:14who's the captain for them on this big, big night.
01:16What a big night it is for the Newcastle manager, Eddie Howe.
01:30There he is, Bruno Gimaraes, fashionably late.
01:33So Barcelona beat Valencia at the weekend without Guillaume, Rafinha or Lewandowski,
01:42but they all start tonight.
01:43The big absentee, though, is the injured Lamin Yamal.
01:46He's back in Barcelona with a groin problem.
01:48Marcus Rashford starts, he's still waiting for his first Barcelona goal.
01:52Firmin Lopez is preferred to Dani Olmo.
01:55Ronald Araujo's back in the team and he's the captain.
01:59Lewandowski starts the night on 105 Champions League goals.
02:12Well, what a night we have in store.
02:14Newcastle need their big players to stand up tonight.
02:17Players who could potentially write another chapter in this club's history if they win.
02:23No Lamin Yamal tonight, but Barcelona's cast of superstars are impressive and potentially match-winning.
02:39Well, Barcelona have won three of the previous four meetings between the teams,
02:43but if tonight is anything like September the 17th, 1997,
02:48you are in for an absolute treat.
02:51Ali McCoy, I think they've got a few more notches than the last time we were here in the Champions League.
02:57Well, good evening everyone.
02:59It's remarkable.
03:00I was in that shack before the game and I thought I'd never heard a noise like it,
03:04but this is something else.
03:05What a week you and I have had, really.
03:07Bilbao was special, Liverpool was fantastic last night,
03:10and the noise level here.
03:12Let's get on with it.
03:13I think it's safe to say that it's a Champions League week that's built to a crescendo.
03:19First defending in there for Fabian Scher.
03:22And the start of this match is going to be important to both of them.
03:26I doubt there's been a better atmosphere anywhere in Europe this week than the one we've got here tonight.
03:31PSG, two seasons ago, drew a similar level of enthusiasm.
03:36And if tonight turns out to be half as good as that, then it's going to live long in the memory.
03:41Barcelona lost it late in the semi-final last season.
03:44They're under early pressure here, the goalkeeper, Johan Garcia.
03:47And you know that they're going to come out of the blocks as fast as they can,
03:50that's what the managers demanded.
03:52And they'll appeal for that, coming across as Araujo on Harvey Barnes.
03:58And I suspect tonight that Glenn Nyberg might be the cool head, Swedes are up and cool.
04:03He'll need to be in here.
04:04He just gets across him, doesn't he, and uses his body very well.
04:08I think you and I, with the greatest respect,
04:11but the only two in the stadium never screamed for a penalty there.
04:16I think you were tempted.
04:20Fabian Scher beaten in the air by Robert Lewandowski,
04:23he's had a bit of a stop start beginning to the season,
04:26he's had this muscle problem but he came off the bench to score a couple of goals at the weekend.
04:31We've got Gerard Martin over on that side,
04:35that's into Firmin Lopez who's got the nod tonight over Danny Olmo,
04:39and now the dangerous Rafinha on the ball for the first time at St James' Park.
04:44Lopez with a shooting opportunity, it's way off target.
04:48I'm going to let him offer that, and I'll tell you why,
04:51because the touch he took in the middle of the park and the ruse of the pass to Rafinha,
04:54prior to the poor shot, was excellent.
04:58There's Hansi Flick who won the Champions League with Bayern Munich five years ago,
05:02won three trophies in his first season with Barcelona,
05:05the third German to manage them,
05:07and the first since Udo Latec in the early 1980s.
05:11They are locked and loaded tonight, the Newcastle supporters.
05:14That's a foul on Joe Linson.
05:19Ten years, by the way, since the last Champions League win for Barcelona,
05:23and after winning the double in Spain last season,
05:25they do start amongst the favourites to win the competition this time around.
05:30It's a shame that Jamal's not here, but the likes of Rafinha and Lewandowski can light this place up.
05:35I agree with you, it's a little bit disappointing, that said,
05:40the talent we've got in show this evening is remarkable really, Fletch.
05:46So the first opportunity tonight for Kieran Trippier to put this Barcelona defence under pressure.
05:51Dan Byrne the obvious target, first time they've looked at him tonight,
05:54and he gets on the ball and hooks it in, and there's Araujo with the Barcelona clearance.
06:00I must say, Ali, when I saw the team sheet tonight,
06:03you saw that Boltamana wasn't playing, it's a surprise.
06:06Just based on the fact his height, you think, would bother this Barcelona defence.
06:10Well, I can't lie to you, Fletch, I was surprised myself,
06:12when I thought Eddie's how tactics, understandably, would have been,
06:15get the ball forward at every opportunity, get it in the box,
06:18you see him there munching on a banana, he'll be ready to go whenever.
06:22But I thought, you know, I even thought they would go long throws,
06:25three kicks into the box, set plays, but he stayed there against him,
06:29a little bit of pace up front.
06:30I must say, I'm with him, it's always nice to have a snack
06:33when you're watching something as gripping as this, isn't it?
06:38Nice and close, Joe Linton and De Jong,
06:40one of the heartbeat players of this Barcelona side,
06:43it's a fantastic middle two, isn't it, with Pedri alongside him.
06:46Here he is.
06:50Pressure on the goalkeeper, big pressure on the goalkeeper,
06:52then almost paid off there for Newcastle, they're finding it so hard to get out.
06:57I said to you last night, you just love a tackle, don't you?
07:02I don't care where I am in the country, football fans love a tackle.
07:06Did you see the fella in the club and look at these guys?
07:09He just stopped trying to tackle him himself.
07:11Astonishing stuff.
07:12Imagine what it would be like if they scored the first goal in here.
07:19Swept on by Rafinha,
07:20who was fantastic for them in all the competitions last season,
07:24scoring goals, making goals.
07:28He was involved in 56, wasn't he, Rafinha, in all competitions.
07:31The fact that Yamal finished the season so well outshot him a little bit,
07:36but he was brilliant.
07:37He goes Liv Rumento, and now Lewandowski, and now Rafinha.
07:46Defended in there by Newcastle's captain, Gimaraes.
07:50Here's the determined Tonali, but he runs there into Frankie de Jong.
07:54Gerard Trippi, Anthony Ilanga, building up ahead of steam and delivering the cross.
08:08Oh, what a chance that was for Gordon.
08:10What a chance for Gordon.
08:12Ilanga brilliant down the right.
08:14Fantastic Ilanga down the right-hand side.
08:17Even before that, Fletch, some beautiful football involving Trippi and Gimaraes.
08:22Release to Ilanga, because on the outside he puts a brilliant ball across.
08:26And he doesn't make contact, Gordon.
08:29Chance gone.
08:32But that's a real warning to Martin, the left-back,
08:35what Anthony Ilanga could potentially bring for Newcastle tonight.
08:38That looked like a mismatch out there.
08:40Do you know what I liked about it, Fletch?
08:41Down the outside, you know, I thought for all intents and purposes
08:45he was gonna drop his shoulder and come back onto his left.
08:47He's now got the full-back thinking, this fella's going both ways.
08:50Yes, Marcus Rashford had a really good Champions League career at Manchester United,
08:56but he's not scored in the competition for four years,
08:58he's still waiting for his first goal as well for Barcelona.
09:02But let's just have a look at this move, Anthony Ilanga teeing up Anthony Gordon.
09:05That's a great, he gets more than a half-yard, push it into a brilliant area.
09:10And he just completely miscues it, doesn't he?
09:13Not a lot you can say about that.
09:15One of the things I would say there was an awful lot of pace in the cross coming across,
09:18but there had to be.
09:19He should be making contact with it.
09:21Newcastle have started well, Gimmarais to Joe Linton.
09:27Gimmarais through, Harvey Barnes in!
09:31Oh!
09:32Flags up.
09:34What a start! What a start of the game!
09:39I think he might just be offside, look at us for him to get passing.
09:44Yeah.
09:45Two of them are off, you've got to see it's a good line, they hold a good line, Barster.
09:50Do you know what?
09:53I think you and I just need to settle down a little bit.
09:56We're as excited as everybody in here, seven minutes gone,
09:58but you can't help but get swept along, can you?
10:01On a night like this in here.
10:03The feeling of the place is unbelievable.
10:05Oh, it's incredible.
10:06There's every chance at some point I'll have Conor Gallagher
10:09replacing Conor McGregor as that last night.
10:13Oh, dear.
10:14Newcastle are aggressive at the start, they're on the front foot,
10:18and they're taking the game to Barcelona.
10:23Well, there he is, the hero of all those years ago, Tino Asprey,
10:28a hat-trick against Barcelona.
10:30Yeah, I remember it well.
10:31I didn't know until Shea Gibbon told me tonight
10:33he never scored another goal for Newcastle, which is astonishing.
10:36Don't you go spoiling it now.
10:37Don't you go spoiling it.
10:38Yeah.
10:39I remember it as if it was yesterday, Fletch, I really do.
10:41What a hat-trick it was.
10:44And I suppose they're gonna sign off here as well,
10:46doing it with a hat-trick against Barcelona.
10:48Absolutely.
10:49The fact they've got Tino Livramento at left-back tonight
10:51means it's Tino on tight side in the Champions League all over again.
10:56Here's Tonali.
10:57And the interesting thing I would say, Fletch,
10:59I'm not sure Rafinha will fancy going back as Livramento goes up that pitch.
11:06Fascinating.
11:07He's brilliant going the forward way, Rafinha.
11:09I'm not sure he'll fancy the defensive side of it.
11:11Newcastle's first win of the season on Saturday was timely,
11:15setting them up perfectly for tonight's challenge.
11:18Harvey Barnes, good cross, goalkeeper went down.
11:21Garcia, somerside in from Espanyol,
11:24and he's been the vision of the two in the early moments here.
11:27Way to pass here, look, there, brilliant.
11:29Tonali, wonderful way to pass.
11:31Barnes just tries to knock it into an area for somebody coming in at the back post.
11:35Lovely. Oh, that's lovely.
11:37And he's got space to run into now.
11:39Trippier looking to make up ground, he's got Rafinha and Lewandowski up there with him.
11:43It's Marcus Rashford!
11:45And he's made a mess of it right at the very end.
11:48Beautiful skill beforehand, he just lets it through,
11:51which does for Kieran Trippier.
11:53Look at this, great throw, he just gets tight and away he goes.
11:57Lovely skill, finish not so good.
11:59Little bit of a warning for Trippier, not that it needed one.
12:09Just miscues it totally at the end, it's a poor effort, after doing ever so well.
12:13Five goals in 15 previous matches against Newcastle for Marcus Rashford.
12:20Keep going back to that game in 1997,
12:35by my reckoning about 250,000 Jordies claimed they were here that night.
12:39Yes.
12:40I just wonder how many times they could have filled the stadium tonight
12:43if it was big enough to accommodate everybody who wants to be here.
12:46The amount of ticket applications must have been through the roof pledge.
12:58It's very similar in many ways to the San Manez on Tuesday night,
13:01where everybody was wearing a shirt and everybody in here tonight
13:04has got black and white stripes of some description on.
13:07Joel Linton not quite able to get Barnes away.
13:10I think this might be the first time he's mentioned Pedri on the ball,
13:14and he picks out Rafinha with a nice pass,
13:17Koundé's gone running in ahead of him, but then he's stopped.
13:20And that just disrupts the Barcelona attack.
13:24Yeah, I think I could see the whites of Dan Burns' eyes there
13:27when Rafinha went into 1v1 room.
13:31If nobody wants to get caught in that situation,
13:33Liverpool just got slightly out of position.
13:35There's the tactic, Bruno give her eyes forward,
13:37Anthony Gordon's quick, Ronald Araujo won the header.
13:40I think they're very keen, aren't they,
13:42to get the likes of Ilanga and Gordon in particular,
13:441v1 against those defenders at the back with room to run into,
13:47because the Barcelona line defensively is always high, Ali.
13:51We've seen it in numerous occasions, haven't we?
14:00Jane continues with Lewandowski down,
14:02but Young playing it forward here to Rafinha,
14:04and then the challenge is going in control, isn't it?
14:06They're having a wee look.
14:07I think Fabian Scherr might just have left a little bit on Lewandowski there.
14:12He's having a wee look at him, isn't he?
14:19What a striker he's been down the years,
14:21third all-time in the Champions League behind Ronaldo and Messi,
14:25rarefied air for a player who's been so good for so long.
14:28Remarkable, Darren, absolutely remarkable quality,
14:32maintaining it for that period of time as well.
14:34Rob Ravento has gone down and stayed down, he's holding his head as well,
14:43so Glenn Nyberg, the referee, will have to stop the game here.
14:57Well, there's Eddie Howe, let's tell you about another big game,
14:59they keep coming thick and fast these games on TNT Sports,
15:02we've got the Merseyside Derby on Saturday, 11 o'clock,
15:05TNT Sports won, Liverpool against Everton for the first time this season,
15:09Discovery Plus as well,
15:11Serie A as well over the weekend,
15:13Inter against Sassuolo on Sunday from half past seven,
15:17and on Monday half past seven we've got Napoli against Pisa,
15:21I mean look at this place, absolutely full, black and white everywhere you look.
15:28Absolutely fantastic.
15:32Did you see that piece they did before the game when we went down to the Shaq,
15:35that place for the Newcastle supporters goal before the game?
15:39I actually think they'd worked out that it was too dangerous to send us in together on a night like this,
15:43hence why I was kept behind like a naughty schoolboy and you were allowed in.
15:47Honestly, Darren.
15:48I think they feared we'd still be in there at this point.
15:50It was absolute chaos, stroke carnage, stroke madness.
15:56And you looked every second, didn't you?
15:58You did it once out of my mouth.
15:59But brilliant fun.
16:01So 13 minutes played.
16:05It's 0-0.
16:06Newcastle have looked the more dangerous in general.
16:09Barcelona have had slightly more of the ball.
16:11There's a fantastic feel to the game already.
16:16One thing they don't tend to do here at Newcastle is be too hospitable to the away fans.
16:36They're right up there.
16:37I think the walk from the bottom to the top was about as far as they travelled to get here from Barcelona.
16:42I'd say you need to set up a base camp to go up there.
16:45Very much the bird's eye view, but if they went to the camp Newhall those years ago,
16:49and down the years they used to be in Highstone with them, that's a good little ball inside.
16:53It's Kieran Trippiut, desperate for him to shoot, here's Harvey Barnes.
16:58And the last touch there was off Koundé, just didn't quite...
17:04I think he changed his mind, Dan.
17:07Trippiut comes onto his left foot, does ever so well.
17:10I'll tell you, Alanga's unlucky here, he really takes it to full.
17:13He's very unlucky, defensively very good.
17:16I think he's got to attempt to bend that with his left foot.
17:19Barnes wants to hit that, but it doesn't set up nicely enough for him, gets the corner.
17:24Having said that, the situation they've got now could be advantageous.
17:27Dan Byrne against this Barcelona defence with a Kieran Trippiut corner.
17:30I remember the trouble that caused Liverpool here earlier in the season with set pieces.
17:33So Byrne and Cher, the obvious targets here for this first Newcastle corner,
17:42which is taken short to Gordon, back to Trippiut, then they've gone low.
17:45And I'm a little bit surprised they've not tested them there with the first one tonight.
17:49They're going to get another one, but...
17:50I'll bet they put that for me, man.
17:52Yeah.
17:53I wonder whether that's what Jason Tindle's just said to Eddie Howe.
18:04Let's see whether they look for the big fella this time.
18:06This one will go right on top of the six-yard box.
18:11Dan Byrne scored against Paris Saint-Germain, didn't he, when they were here on that famous night.
18:15This is the delivery.
18:17So Trippiut in this side when the goalkeeper's going to claim it.
18:21Can you overthink it sometimes?
18:22Well, they're just trying to change the angle.
18:24That's all they're trying to do, Dan.
18:26I understand it.
18:27Ball gets played back and Trippiut puts in a reasonable cross,
18:30they're just trying to change the angle honestly slightly.
18:32I beg to differ that that would have been your response back in the day.
18:35You'd have been saying, why has that not gone into the box?
18:38Correct.
18:39If I was in there, you're absolutely correct.
18:44This is Ronald Araujo, who didn't play at the weekend,
18:47he picks out Marcus Rashford there with a nice ball.
18:53Dion.
18:57This is the teenager, the 18-year-old Pau Koubasi.
19:00Now the French international shows Koundé.
19:09It's quite rare you've got a centre-back at 18,
19:12who plays all the big games that Barcelona has.
19:14He's approaching 100 for them already.
19:16Yeah, it's remarkable really, isn't it?
19:18It's already played 18 times in the Champions League as well.
19:23They trust him as a talented player.
19:30Frankie de Jong.
19:35This is Gerard Martin, Koubasi.
19:47Koundé spilling away from Liberamento, Rafinha.
19:50He's not quite able to get Anthony Gordon through.
19:59He's unlucky there because he knows Koubasi's out of position.
20:03That's an important challenge as well by Byrne,
20:05because Rafinha had made a good run and there was plenty of pace on the pass.
20:08Frankie de Jong.
20:24Pau Koubasi.
20:25Pau Koubasi.
20:34In a way, Ali, I think Newcastle are happy that Barcelona have the ball in situations like this,
20:38because look at the space they've got if it breaks down going the other way for Gordon and Ilanga.
20:42That's what they're trying to set up, isn't it?
20:43Yeah, on the counter, absolutely.
20:45The pace they've got.
20:46This is the first sustained spell of possession so far tonight for the Spaniards.
20:55They find a pocket here to Firmin Lopez and then Rafinha,
21:00and that's in towards Lewandowski who got there just in front of the keeper,
21:03and then Koundé on the follow-up.
21:06He got there in a fashion, didn't he, Nick Pope?
21:09Keeper does well.
21:10That big fella's done that for a hundred years,
21:13just getting up front of the goalkeeper, getting a nod on it.
21:16Doesn't take his eye off the ball, the centre-forward, you know,
21:19but the goalkeeper does exceptionally well.
21:22Exceptionally well.
21:24It's actually good play for the two of them, I feel there.
21:27Very brave, doesn't take his eye off the ball,
21:30he knows the goalkeeper will clatter him.
21:32So when I talk about Lewandowski being third on the all-time list,
21:35he's not a million miles behind either, 24 behind Messi, 35 behind Ronaldo,
21:40when you think about the career that Dave had.
21:44He's got a great record of goals against English teams in European competition as well,
21:50the Poland captain.
21:52Well, you've got to say Barcelona's record against English teams is excellent.
21:57You know, prior to the 4-0 at Liverpool, I think they won 12 or 16 or something, Darren,
22:03which is a brilliant record, let's be honest.
22:05Overall, Ali, 89th game for Barcelona tonight against an English team,
22:09and they've won almost half of them if you widen it out to all-time.
22:14Here's Bruno Gimaraes.
22:19Actually across there, defending to Barca.
22:21They'll get the free kick here, Newcastle.
22:37Better straightforward, isn't it? Free kick.
22:40Tell you what, I love this new format, the next game in the competition for Barcelona is Paris Saint-Germain at home,
22:50so you start with Newcastle away in this atmosphere, then you've got the European champions,
22:54you never used to get that kind of situation in the old group format.
22:57No, I'm with you, I'm with you all the way.
22:59I went into the new format with an open mind fletched to be honest with you,
23:04and I've really, really enjoyed it.
23:09So the conversation between Anthony Alanga, Kieran Trippier, Joel Linton, Cher and Byrne,
23:16all providing a fair deal of height in there for Newcastle.
23:20It's the trusty right boot of Trippier, it's headed away by Araujo for Barcelona,
23:26that's a little bit of a soft header by Harvey Barnes and Rashford was on to it,
23:30but that's quite brilliant covering by Trippier.
23:32Well, they got Harvey Barnes out of trouble there, didn't they? Brilliant.
23:37Fantastic covering from the right full-back getting across there.
23:41I think Leverimento was under a little bit of pressure there, not the best of headers, but they got away with it.
23:48We've sent Dan Byrne forward for this free kick as well, he's right in the centre of everything.
24:04The big Newcastle defender, Fabian Scheer, his partner alongside him.
24:08Free kick taken by Sandro Tonali, right down the throat of Dan Byrne.
24:12For once he's out-jumped there, that was good defending by Araujo.
24:16Interesting tussle there involving Tonali and Lewandowski,
24:20and the Newcastle midfielder won the battle, that's really good from him.
24:23That's really good from him.
24:39Bill there ahead of Rafinha, hooked on by Liberamento to Gibbereis, a little touch there nice and delicate to Sandro Tonali, and now Ilanga.
24:47Good defending on that side there by Martín.
24:53Certainly coped with the threat of Ilanga better on the second occasion.
24:57Yeah, he did well there.
24:58Interesting method from Trippier.
25:02But I like the fact that getting the ball out to Ilanga as quickly as possible, giving him as much time to isolate Martín.
25:11Not at Lewandowski's header.
25:23This is picked up here by Rafinha, they're a bit slow to react there, Newcastle.
25:27Now Rashford.
25:32Rafinha.
25:35Composure from Joe Linton, he just about got away with it.
25:38One or two in the Gallagate were a little bit concerned I think.
25:41I call that overcomposure.
25:43Here's Pedri, now De Jong, Koubasi.
25:58Marcus Rashford, good defending back here with Trippier.
26:02It's a good ball as well for Gibbereis.
26:07Gordon's just trying to hold his line.
26:09Ilanga's on low, Antonio Ilanga stalling away.
26:12Harvey Barnes in the middle, it's Harvey Barnes coming onto it!
26:15Good save.
26:16Sweeping Newcastle move and Harvey Barnes so close to making it 1-0.
26:21Fantastic, that's fantastic football.
26:24The way he holds the ball and releases it at the right time for Ilanga's magic.
26:29It really is.
26:31Terrific football, deserve the goal.
26:36Look at this, it's a lovely ball that Trippier plays on, but look, he doesn't panic,
26:40holds it, holds it, and he's wearing a pass, it's fantastic.
26:44And away he goes, and I thought he was gonna take another touch, he didn't.
26:48That's tremendous.
26:49He's unlucky, hits a target, keeper makes a good save.
26:52It's a brilliant cross, isn't it, probably Ilanga.
26:54Let's just get it in football, get it in football.
27:00What a move.
27:04So I think we're gonna see the first long throw-in from Newcastle, Tino Libramento.
27:10There's Dan Byrne, who's an obvious target.
27:13Charlinton not that far away from him.
27:17Fabian Scherr not quite able to reach it,
27:19and it's cleared forward by Firmin Lopez,
27:21he's gonna come back for the foul on Pedri.
27:32Perfectly weighted pass from Ilanga, it really is.
27:36You're more on the criticism of Harvey Barnes,
27:38I think he's got to hit it back where it came from, Fletch.
27:40As the ball comes across, and it's an exquisite pass, it really is.
27:44Just a little bit sometimes with the header,
27:46just put it back where it came from.
27:48Harvey Barnes' first Champions League start tonight.
27:51his first-team debut for Leicester within the Champions League,
27:55though off the bench against Porto.
27:57Here's Rafinha, that's good defending by Libramento,
27:59but it is gonna be a Barca corner.
28:01That's Frankie de Jong, the Dutchman, on his way in.
28:09That's Frankie de Jong, the Dutchman, on his way in.
28:23Now hold the captain, Rafinha the Brazilian out to take it,
28:28in front of the Gallagate here at St. James' Park.
28:36Defended well at the far post by Fabian Scherr.
28:42Rashford.
28:45Now the break by Leon, Anthony Gordon's off and running
28:47if Libramento gets his head up.
28:49The referee stating there that Rashford got the ball,
28:54it's a painful one, though, for Libramento.
28:56I just wonder there, Ali, whether he could have got it out of his feet.
28:58Yeah, he clipped it forward, I think he tried to.
29:00Always in danger of getting that pass cut out,
29:04it's a dangerous pass across the face.
29:06It's a good tackle, actually.
29:08He doesn't lift his head.
29:11Let's have a look at this chance again.
29:27I mean, the thing that caught my eye was the speed of Milanga at the outset.
29:31See right here, Fletch, this is where he's got to compose himself
29:33and put it back across.
29:35It's got to go to the other side,
29:36because the goalie's momentum is all going to the right-hand side,
29:39making it near impossible for him to go back across his goal.
29:42Barnes has got to get back where it came from,
29:45towards the goalkeeper's left-hand post,
29:48because his momentum's all the way to the other side.
29:50It's a Barcelona team that's unbeaten so far this season,
29:56they've only lost a couple of their last 39 games in all competitions,
30:01three of them in actual fact against Inter Milan and Dortmund in the Champions League,
30:05and then Villarreal in a La Liga match.
30:08Double winners in Spain last season, they were the best team in Spain,
30:11they should have got to the finals, shouldn't they have the Champions League,
30:13apart from that blow-up right at the end against Inter Milan,
30:16where they couldn't manage the game, really.
30:18Never, wasn't it?
30:19I mean, that first leg in the semi-final,
30:21you and I will stay with me for a long, long time.
30:24I think the only person that remembers the first leg in greater detail than you and I's DeMarco,
30:30the full-back of Inter Milan,
30:32who still wakes up in a cold sweat in his Lomé in Yamal pyjamas.
30:35What a pass that is!
30:37Fantastic to Joel Inton.
30:39Alanga was trying to stay onside, but then he lacked a bit of composure, didn't he, Joel Inton?
30:44I think the momentum, when he's trying to stay onside, the momentum,
30:47he's lost as well, but it's a fabulous ball.
30:50Was it Fabian Scherner made that ball? What a great pass, or was it?
30:53It's up here, one of the two, it was a great pass.
30:59It's good defending by Scherner, they're aggressive, aren't they, the two Newcastle centre-backs.
31:03It's the first yellow card tonight, Joel Inton for the foul on Petri.
31:12It's a tug of the jersey, can't have many complaints.
31:15Here you see it, there it goes.
31:17You see it there, there it goes.
31:18Rashford to Pedri, still only 22, he seems like he's been around in the Barcelona midfield for ages.
31:48They are being harassed there by Tornale, they have the Dutch midfield in Barcelona, they have them down the years.
32:07Cher's playing Lewandowski really well in situations like that, Ali.
32:15Really tight, not giving them any time at all.
32:18Excellent headed by Byrne.
32:22Give it away though by Libermento, that was sloppy.
32:25Rafinha, that wasn't great either, straight to Trippier, and then Bruno Guimaraes is going to put Anthony Langer away.
32:32Kvarty's got to get across, Gordon's gone down in the middle.
32:35Ilanger's crossed, Barnes coming onto it, Koundé beats him to it, Ilanger again, Bruno Guimaraes.
32:42Can Ilanger pick somebody out, Gordon was the target, and it's cleared away as far as Libermento,
32:50good Newcastle pressure, approaching the half hour, in by Barnes and the goalkeeper Garcia can get a hold of it.
32:56It's not a bad ball either, similar one to the previous one he played, he's wanted somebody to come across.
33:01How lively has he looked to Langer?
33:05Opening 30 minutes, that's another good ball.
33:08Do you think Ronaldo Ruho meant the trip, had a little look at Anthony Gordon before he did it?
33:12Yes, an answer to the question, I'd be surprised if he didn't.
33:16Rashford at the other end for Barcelona, Trippier's winning the battle at the moment though.
33:20No each other from England of course, he's made a good start defensively, Kieran Trippier.
33:26Pedri.
33:32De Jong.
33:34Rashford.
33:35Rafinha too high for him, and that's behind for the goal kick.
33:40What a half hour, this has been non-stop.
33:45I mean one thing this team can do Ali, is score goals, 184 I think it was in all competitions last season.
34:02They scored 43 in 14 Champions League games, and it's quite astonishing the record,
34:07when you look back on the results last season, they were scoring numerous goals in the majority of games.
34:1367 goals in the 14 games, incredible.
34:18And you know, between the two sides. Combined, yeah.
34:21Combined, yeah.
34:22I think they walked out with 4.7 a game.
34:24They don't buy the shootout, do they? No.
34:32Excellent balance to get Koundé away, Lewandowski met firmly again by Scher,
34:37he's gonna come back though now for the foul of it.
34:39That's the way he's gonna play him tonight, foot defending from Fabian Scher.
34:43Lewandowski said there's another one, that's three.
34:45I think it's four.
34:49It just gives him a kick that he right calf doesn't he?
34:52No, it is four.
34:53I didn't see the little finger hiding behind it.
34:55I think he heard me there, he heard me there.
34:56Did it with a wry smile on his face, he wouldn't expect anything else would he,
35:04Robert Lewandowski tonight.
35:05No, he's been over the course before hasn't he, don't worry about that.
35:1036 and seemingly as good as ever.
35:16Clipped in by De Jong, headed on by Araujo, led away by Joel Inton.
35:26Here's Petri, Araujo's down, so they're just playing with one short at the minute, Barcelona.
35:40He gets up early, doesn't he, there.
35:50Araujo, must be how he lands as you land.
35:54It's either that or it's a hit in the unmentionables.
35:57I hope it's the way he landed then, to be fair.
36:00We're fast approaching by the way, the new season of Gallagher Prem Rugby,
36:04and once again TNT Sports is gonna bring you every match live, round one kicks off next week from the 20th.
36:09to the 28th of September.
36:15It's a magnificent scene here at St James' Park for this Champions League match tonight.
36:39Martina away from Ilanga, Lewandowski.
36:51Now Pedri.
36:55The first time by Koubasi to Rashford.
37:07Rashford's seen a bit more of the ball on the left than Rafinha has had on the right.
37:13In the opening, 34 minutes.
37:15Quiet start to the game so far for Robert Lewandowski.
37:17Firmin Lopez tried the flick, he then gets the ball back, here's Lewandowski with the first shot tonight.
37:23Fabian Scher with a good block.
37:25Here's De Jong.
37:27Rashford.
37:29Rafinha has made a run into the middle, Scher set a Lewandowski onto it with no direction.
37:33Now De Jong.
37:35Barcelona pressing.
37:37Slipped in towards Rafinha, that's an important clearance by Bern.
37:39It breaks now for Lewandowski, looking to make room.
37:41Libermento might've got a piece, Rafinha coming onto it, and can't direct it.
37:43Just couldn't really get out, though, Newcastle there.
37:45But they will run the pass down.
37:46They will fit the pass down.
37:47And there were to continue the pass down.
37:48He can get his backs down, they can get his left with him, here's the left.
37:50You can get his left.
37:51And there's a lot of trouble, he's got his left.
37:52You can get the pass, he's got one of the ready-watches.
37:53But now Don Sennheys have one of the best players.
37:54Now at that point, you can take the pass as well to Bayern.
37:55Now Dijon.
37:56Barcelona pressing.
37:58Slipped in towards Rafinha, that's an important clearance by Bern.
38:01It breaks now for Lewandowski, looking to make room,
38:02Lewandowski looking to make room,
38:04Livramento might have got a piece,
38:05Rafinha coming on to it and can't direct it.
38:08Just couldn't really get out though, Newcastle there.
38:11But the one thing,
38:11see when you look at Lewandowski, Fletch,
38:14he just wants a shot at goal.
38:17Look, he's dying to hit that,
38:19he can't get out of his feet,
38:20you saw the one prior to it when he smashes across the face.
38:23I don't think I've ever seen a centre-forward
38:25that just wants a shot at goal.
38:30I've got to say, when you think about Rafinha,
38:32he's got to be a contender for the Ballon d'Or,
38:3413 goals in the Champions League,
38:358 assists in the Champions League,
38:3934 goals in all competitions,
38:40he was outstanding for Barcelona.
38:44Such a good player for them since signing from Leeds United,
38:47seems to have grown in stature as a player in every way.
38:58I think the best thing you can say about him,
38:59he looks at home there, doesn't he?
39:01He just looks very, very comfortable.
39:04As if he's been there for a number of seasons.
39:06You tend to see him on the left, don't you,
39:07with Yamal on the right,
39:09so it's Rashford out there tonight,
39:10so it's a switch of role
39:11for Rafinha.
39:13Petr, you want to see that one again, will he?
39:29Give a race round into Petri,
39:30loses out, here's Lewandowski up there on his own for now,
39:33Rashford's gone running through.
39:34Newcastle quickly with defenders the right side of things.
39:42And they had to beat.
39:45Frankie de Jong,
39:47Petri.
39:47And away by Ganturn.
39:55Did we give Tedri enough credit there for that touch of the pressure?
40:07Ah, he's a terrific footballer, isn't he?
40:09Because Anthony Gordon was sniffing around him
40:12in the hope of a less than excellent touch,
40:16but excellent it was.
40:19Played 59 games last season, Petri,
40:21which was, nobody played more than that
40:23in the top five European leagues.
40:24Rafinha, now Petri.
40:33Seen plenty of the ball, Barcelona's number eight.
40:41Marcus Rashford.
40:43Petri's had the most touches out there of any player
40:46so far tonight, you wouldn't be surprised by that.
40:49Firmin Lopez, Frankie de Jong.
40:56Marcus Rashford.
40:57Looking to tee up Kieran Trippier
40:59and go the long way round.
41:00It's Fabian Scherr with a great block for Newcastle.
41:04And then Liberamento didn't quite run it out of it.
41:07I thought he did.
41:08Koundé's run it back from it anyway.
41:11Here's Firmin Lopez, Frankie de Jong.
41:16Barcelona pressure growing now
41:18towards the end of the half.
41:21Rafinha.
41:24Free kick, just nibbled up by Gimaraes.
41:27The referee's perfectly placed to see it as well, isn't he?
41:38International teammates in direct competition,
41:41Bruno, Gimaraes and Rafinha.
41:43Pressure growing though on Newcastle defensively, Alan.
41:45Yeah.
41:45The intensity has just slightly gone out of Newcastle's game.
41:51Which is understandable.
41:54It's very difficult, near and possible to keep that going
41:57for the entire 45 minutes.
41:58Is this about the distance of the free kick that Rafinha took
42:01against Inter Milan that came back off the bar
42:03and hit the goalie and went in?
42:05Yes.
42:06It is, isn't it?
42:06Semi-final.
42:08First leg.
42:09I'll tell you what, he's going to attempt to put it right above that wall.
42:12Yeah.
42:12Into the goalkeeper's left-hand side, I would suggest.
42:16Too high.
42:17Into the Gallagher instead.
42:21I must say, the free kick he scored in the semi-final
42:23was one of the best strikes of a ball I saw all season.
42:25Yeah, it was brilliant.
42:26It's just been a bit of a meeting between the three of them.
42:43Nick Polk, Fabian Scheer and Dan Kearn.
42:48Moving towards the final five minutes of this first half.
42:52Newcastle have won their last three games against Spanish clubs.
42:56Their last defeat was the last time they played against Barcelona.
43:04Gerard Martins' header and Fabian Scheer.
43:08Bruno Gimeraj.
43:11Sandro Tonali out to Harvey Barnes.
43:13They tended to do most of their work down the right.
43:15Newcastle.
43:16Joe Lint was a pass there.
43:18Oh, Joe Lint was on Fletch.
43:19Couldn't go there with Barnes.
43:23It's a corner, I think.
43:25I know he's going to deliver him into there, Barnes.
43:28But I just thought Joe Linton was a pass through the middle.
43:32He always see it.
43:33He cuts inside.
43:35Oh, it's opened up for Joe Linton there.
43:42So, Langer's come out to take the corner from this side this time.
43:47Dan Burns gone right in on the goalkeeper.
43:49When you're as big as he is, you're easy to notice, aren't you, for a referee?
44:03Yeah.
44:04No hay than bliss.
44:05He's right in there, though, Byrne.
44:10If Ilanga can get the corner right, Garcia's come and dealt with it.
44:13Did well there, Garcia.
44:14Made his mind up early and then Rashford with the clearance.
44:17Here's Trippier.
44:18Big men have stayed forward.
44:22Byrne helps it on.
44:25Scheer leaves it.
44:26Whether he did it by choice, I'm not sure.
44:28For Ilanga, now Fabian Scheer.
44:31Not the best of crosses, headed away by Roldo Raojo.
44:34Needs to beat the front man.
44:36What to beat the first man there?
44:39Flicked on them by...
44:40Joel Insom that he's offside, which has disappointed the home supporters.
44:45Yeah, he was coming back, wasn't he?
44:47Fuck it, that's all the rage.
45:07This summer, everybody's got one.
45:09Everybody had one, everybody's got one again.
45:12I'm sure I saw you sporting one as well at some point.
45:14Myth and rumour, Alistair.
45:20He's Ferdinand Lopez for Barcelona.
45:22Three minutes to go in the half, given away to Sandro Tonali.
45:28Joel Linton was helped up by the crowd.
45:31Here's Trippier, Ilanga.
45:33Up against Martín, he's got Gordon and Barnes in the middle.
45:38Now Joel Linton.
45:39That's a poor ball by Joel Linton.
45:41Two or three times he's needed to show greater composure.
45:44An accuracy.
45:46Gordon to take on Koundé, defended behind by the Frenchman for a corner.
45:51Do you know what I'm smiling at?
45:52I can't stop laughing.
45:54The ball came into Joel Linton there.
45:57And there was 48,000 shouts of man on.
46:00Did you hear it?
46:01I did.
46:02So did he, fortunately.
46:07They all share a common goal in here at St James' Park tonight.
46:12This undying love for Newcastle, the unwavering support for their club on a big night in the Champions League.
46:18Burn in there again.
46:24Gimaraes in there again.
46:26Ilanga with the delivery again.
46:28Defended by Barcelona.
46:29Liberamento arrows one in, but that's going to be too near the goalkeeper.
46:46We're expecting two additional minutes at the end of this half.
46:51Might have been a little bit more.
46:52That's Martín and now Koubasi.
47:18Dion.
47:18Dion.
47:18Dion.
47:22Pedri.
47:27So confident and so composed, Pedri.
47:37John Linton gets it to Gimaraes.
47:40It's going to be a card for Martín.
47:42He was clumsy there.
47:47He was fully aware, though, Gimaraes, wasn't he?
47:49If he could just get the ball away from Martín, he could put Ilanga in.
47:52He just misses out of it, doesn't he?
47:59I think it's a genuine attempt to play the ball.
48:01But fascinating now that Martín, the left back, is on a yellow card against Anthony Ilanga.
48:06Oh, you'd be giving it to Ilanga for the entire second half.
48:10Eddie Howe, alongside Graeme Jones.
48:22Half-time team talk being discussed, no doubt.
48:26Into two minutes of additional time.
48:28He's reached the semi-final with Lyon back in 2020, Bruno Gimaraes, one of the more experienced Champions League players in the team.
48:47There's the mark.
48:48Do you think at some stage they just say to players, look, you don't need to wear shin pads anymore?
49:04The size of those, I mean, they're a complete waste of time.
49:06Yes, they are.
49:08But talking to somebody that's broken both his legs.
49:11Well, I know, but that's not going to help.
49:13That's the point I'm making.
49:14I mean, that's not going to stop it, is it?
49:15Well, they should make them bigger, then.
49:16They should make them bigger.
49:18I think shin pads.
49:19Well, I would agree with that, if they're proper size, I get it, but I mean, that's as big as a playing card.
49:24No, I get it, some players don't like wearing them, but I think they should.
49:29It goes to Bern, who gets the chest behind the ball, but Barcelona get it away, Tonali forward.
49:37Koundé is a fraction sharper than Dan Bern, but they look the pressure that Big Mac puts on,
49:43but he might just have left his foot in there as Koundé cleared it.
49:49I'm willing to bet Koundé could hear Big Dan breathing there.
49:53I'm also willing to bet the shin pads did nothing again.
49:59Point taken.
50:02I think he's got a yellow card for that, has he?
50:10I think he might catch his right ankle, you know.
50:19Can I just make the point as well, that when we're discussing the size of shin pads,
50:29when you use the fact you've broken both of your legs, it's not really fair as an argument.
50:32I've not got a great deal to come back with at that point.
50:38Apart from being sympathetic towards your injury.
50:40You're definitely going to struggle to find a counter-argument, which you knew, didn't you?
50:47Yeah.
50:50Thoroughly absorbing first half.
50:52I've loved it.
50:53I've loved everything about it.
50:54I love the passion.
50:55I love the intensity.
50:57Love the crowd.
50:59Some excellent football.
51:00I can tell you that the challenge didn't take place there.
51:03I'm guaranteed it.
51:04All there.
51:19Wasn't happy, Hansi Flick, with only a yellow card for that challenge we're being told from people we've got behind the bench,
51:25but the VAR, you said Jérôme Brissard, had no interest whatsoever.
51:29So there's the half-time whistle, nil-nil.
51:31I mean, the best chance of the half was a Newcastle chance.
51:35Ilanga tearing up Barnes, and his shot on the run was saved by Garcia.
51:39There was a really good early chance as well for Newcastle.
51:42Ilanga's cross, and Anthony Gordon from point-blank range missed his kick.
51:47We've seen Rashford threaten at times.
51:48Lewandowski's not really got started.
51:50Barcelona have dominated the ball.
51:52But at half-time in the Champions League, you'll hear from Shea Gibbon at half-time,
51:55and from Joe Cole with Laura.
51:58Half-time, it's Newcastle nil, Barcelona nil.
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