Without the ball, Barcelona suffered. Thus, Newcastle generated chance after chance, but always deviated, towards Joan García or without fully believing they could win. The first serious warning came when Anthony Gordon, who had started the match on the bench, hit a ball against the post and Joelinton, with the goal at his mercy, pushed it into the net. The absence of Eric García just hours before did not help, forcing Ronald Araújo to play, nor the complete disconnection of the attacking players. Neither Yamal, nor Raphinha, nor Robert Lewandowski showed up in northern England. If Barcelona stayed on its feet against Newcastle's onslaught, it was thanks to Joan García's performance, Cubarsí's clearances, who cleared a header from Sandro Tonali off the line, and Pedri's distributions in the center, which were a breath of oxygen every time he had the ball. From a penalty, in the 96th minute and having deserved nothing for the entire match, Barcelona managed to draw (1-1) and doesn't quite know how against a Newcastle that was better and believed it had secured victory in the 87th minute thanks to a goal from Harvey Barnes. A penalty on Dani Olmo, converted by Lamine Yamal in the 96th minute, gives a second life to the Blaugrana, who can seal the tie next week in front of their fans. Yamal, in his only appearance in the match, solved the meager and weak plan from Hansi Flick against a Newcastle that savored victory until the 96th minute, when with the last second, they got a cold shower.
Don't stop reading: Edmundo Sosa on Panama in the Clásico: 'It was a total failure'. Again, as in the group stage, Barcelona's lack of accuracy and a couple of flashes denied the 'magpies' what should have been a well-deserved victory. Overwhelmed by the occasion, as so many other times in the last decade, Barcelona came out to just wait. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and there was no VAR to save Newcastle. It was a matter of holding out for six minutes. And everything was going well until the 96th minute, when Dani Olmo desperately entered the Newcastle area. He didn't hit the ball well, and it went against Joan García's chest, but the inertia itself put it into the net. St. James' Park exploded and Newcastle saw itself as the winner. Even on a day they didn't deserve it, Barcelona received a prize from Newcastle: the prize of being able to decide the tie next week at home and in front of their own.
You may be interested: Lamine Yamal, from a penalty in the 96th, saves Barcelona. March 10, 2026. 'We have learned from the tie against Atlético'. March 10, 2026. Shameful incident from Jonathan Araúz in the Clásico match. March 10, 2026. Atlético de Madrid receives Tottenham Hotspur. March 10, 2026. Edmundo Sosa on Panama in the Clásico: 'It was a total failure'. March 10, 2026.
The Spanish midfielder dribbled and came up against a clumsy Thiaw, who brought him down. The Italian referee Marco Guidano hesitated. Barnes, already substituted, sank onto his bench. To the Spanish team's luck, it was offside, but that was followed by Pedri's substitution, who left the field exhausted from the effort. Marc Bernal had also been injured, which further broke Barcelona, who conceded the goal against them in the 87th minute, with almost no time to react. Jacob Murphy played a one-two on the wing, put a cross to the far post, and no one followed Harvey Barnes, who finished at point-blank range and alone. His final effort and brilliance had been for nothing. Because Yamal deceived from eleven meters Aaron Ramsdale and headed towards the crowd as if to say 'Why always me?'
