Newcastle's BBB night at Camp Nou: Bold, Brave and Battered!

Football is stunning, unpredictable, yet sometimes awfully cruel! Just ask Newcastle United fans...

Eddie Howe's men stood up against Barcelona this Wednesday night at the mythical Camp Nou, and were toe-to-toe with the European giants going into the first-half stoppage time (2-2, 3-3 on aggregate).

Alas, by the end of the night, they conceded five more goals without pegging back a single one for a full-scale battering, as Barcelona advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals thanks to a second-half perfect storm, 7-2 (8-3 on agg)!

It must be frustrating, excruciating to be that brave and bold against one of the strongest UCL sides, and after a remarkable half, get annihilated in front of the eyes of the whole world.

Shy Barca got away from St James' Park last week with Lamine Yamal's last-minute penalty, and Raphinha's early opener tonight seemed like a sign of a routine night for the Catalans.

The Brazilian played a one-two with Fermin Lopez before slotting it marvellously into the bottom corner, 1-0.

However, the Magpies showed their impeccable character once again, bouncing back almost instantly and sharply. Excellent Harvey Barnes teamed up on the left flank with Lewis Hall to arrange a perfect setup for Anthony Elanga, 1-1.

Barcelona were showing signs of vulnerability, but were still able to fight back on the other end, as young Bernal capitalised on finely taken set-pieces to make it 2-1 in no time.

Still, even that second lead didn't last long for the hosts. The axis Barnes-Elanga fired again, exploiting Joao Cancelo's flaws to the fullest, as the Swedish winger bagged a brace to make it 2-2.

Were we not entertained!?

When Anthony Gordon soon missed from the back post, and Dan Burn made a historic tackle to deny Robert Lewandowski from scoring on the other end, Barca's president, Joan Laporta and his associates must have had those Inter Milan Champions League traumas in the back of their minds.

Ramsdale stopped Raphinha's effort and Yamal missed it from close range after it, as the game was reaching the half-time break. But then came maybe the crucial moment!

Kieran Tripier pushed Raphinha in the box, thus preventing him from scoring, but it was a clear penalty and Yamal luckily restored the lead seconds before the break, 3-2.

For some reason, that seemed to be the moment the visitors just couldn't get over it.

As soon as the game restarted, we got ourselves a completely different ball game. No evenly-matched sides, no drama, no goals on both ends, no intensity and suspense...

Just Barca. And more Barca. And more...

Fermin Lopez broke the dam with a brilliant run and a superb finish (4-2), and that two-goal cushion literally destroyed Newcastle.

What followed was an avalanche, a disastrous 20 minutes of beating and battering which also saw Lewandowski's double, along with Raphinha, who sealed his brace with another one for a jaw-dropping 7-2 lead (8-3 on agg).

Calling it unfair wouldn't be accurate and would diminish the quality and brutality of Hansi Flick's men, but Newcastle have nothing to be ashamed about despite this painful 7-2 defeat, probably one of the worst in the club's European history. On the other hand, unstoppable Barcelona will face the winner of the Atletico Madrid-Tottenham tie in the UCL quarter-finals.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - ROUND OF 16

Return leg

Tuesday

Sporting - Bodo 5-0 (1-0) AET

/Ignacio 34, Goncalves 61, Suarez 78(p), Araujo 92, Nel 120+1/

Arsenal - Leverkusen 2-0 (1-0)

/Eze 36, Rice 63/

Chelsea - PSG 0-3 (0-2)

/Kvaratskhelia 6, Barcola 14, Mayulu 62/

Manchester City - Real Madrid 1-2 (1-1)

/Haaland 41 - Vinicius 22(p), 90+3/

Wednesday

Barcelona - Newcastle 7-2 (3-2)

/Raphinha 6, 72, Bernal 18, Yamal 45+7 pen, Fermin 51, Lewandowski 56, 61 - Elanga 15,28/

Barcelona win 8-3 on aggregate

23.00: (1.35) Bayern (5.30) Atalanta (8.00)

23.00: (1.30) Liverpool (6.10) Galatasaray (8.50)

23.00: (2.60) Tottenham (3.75) Atl.Madrid (2.65)

***odds are subject to change***