‘You don’t even know who you’re chasing‘ — Joelinton admits Barcelona left Newcastle confused | OneFootball

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie against Newcastle United, FC Barcelona delivered a masterclass in the second leg, securing an emphatic 7-2 victory at the Spotify Camp Nou and advancing 8-3 on aggregate.

The first half was a fair fight between the two sides, ending 3-2 in the Catalans’ favor. However, the Blaugranes came out with their guns blazing in the second half, completely overwhelming the English side.

In fact, as Mundo Deportivo has reported, two Newcastle United players talked about how difficult it was to play against Barcelona in the second half after the game. One of these players was Joelinton, who commented:

Anthony Elanga, who scored both of Newcastle’s goals, also acknowledged Barcelona’s superiority.

“In the second half, we left them a lot of space, and a team like Barça punished us for it. If you disrespect them and make mistakes, they punish you.”

He added that while he was pleased with his individual goals, his bigger ambition remained to turn personal achievements into team victories:

“I’m happy about the goals, but my ambition is greater — it’s to turn those goals into victories.”

He also spoke highly of Lamine Yamal:

“He’s an incredible player, really good.”

Praise from one’s opposition certainly feels good, and the Barcelona team deserved this praise after their performance last night. Hopefully, the team will continue playing at this level to end the season on a high note.