Champions League news: Five talking points from Newcastle Utd’s last-16 draw with Barcelona
The Champions League round of 16 kicked off on Tuesday night, headlined by a clash between Newcastle United and Barcelona at St James’ Park.
Many expected a drubbing, a showing of true class from Hansi Flick’s side, but what ensued was far from that, with the home side holding the Spanish giants to a 1-1 draw.
Instead of the comfortable night many predicted for the visitors, the game unfolded as a tightly contested battle.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Zephryn Dockree provides five talking points from the much-anticipated game.
1. Lewis Hall shines on the biggest stage
Lewis Hall has quietly been one of Europe’s best left-backs this year, but against Lamine Yamal he produced a performance few people would have expected.
The former Chelsea youth team player wasn’t dribbled past once and created five chances to boot, showing both defensive discipline and attacking quality throughout the night.
If performances like this continue, it’s increasingly hard to imagine a scenario where he isn’t England’s starting full-back heading into the summer tournament.
2. William Osula offers Newcastle a solution up top
Newcastle have struggled in recent weeks to find form up front, with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa both experiencing difficult adaptation periods.
However, William Osula showed last night that he may be the man for the job.
Despite not registering a goal or assist, Osula’s running in the channels and hold-up play caused plenty of problems for Hansi Flick’s side throughout the match.
With this performance in the bag, and a 90th-minute winner against Manchester United last week, it seems the Dane may have secured his spot in the side for the time being.
3. Newcastle will rue their missed chances
Despite creating more than enough chances to take a commanding lead, Eddie Howe’s side will travel to the Camp Nou exactly where they started at St James’ Park.
Multiple missed opportunities to put some distance between themselves and the Spanish side will ultimately be the story of the match.
If they are to lose in Catalonia, this game will almost certainly be looked back on as a huge opportunity missed for the Geordies.
4. Lamine Yamal kept quiet again in England
He scored a penalty late on, but the world’s premier young player, Lamine Yamal, did little of note for a second time on English shores.
First Marc Cucurella against Chelsea, now Lewis Hall against Newcastle – the formidable winger has twice been kept unusually quiet.
If he is to live up to the expectations surrounding him, he may need to show more against Europe’s toughest sides.
Should he fail to shine against the intensity of Europe’s hardest league, he could find himself in for a shock in the later rounds of this competition.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: FA Cup news: Man City, Liverpool set for blockbuster quarter-final showdown at the Etihad Stadium
5. Costly mistake denies Newcastle victory
After dominating large parts of the match and largely keeping the Spanish side at bay, a costly error denied Newcastle what would have been a deserved 1-0 victory.
Malik Thiaw’s swinging leg to bring Dani Olmo down handed Barcelona the late penalty that changed the complexion of the tie.
It was a totally avoidable challenge that may yet prove costly for the Magpies’ Champions League campaign.
With everything still to play for at the Camp Nou, however, the centre-half will have the chance to make amends in the second leg.
READ NEXT: England’s Champions League charge: Six Premier League clubs enter crucial last-16 showdowns
