Make no mistake, this was a missed opportunity – Newcastle 1 Barcelona 2 | OneFootball

Newcastle 1 Barcelona 2 – Thursday 18 September 2025 8pm

Waste chances when you are on top and the outcome is unlikely to be a happy one.

United were pressing high up the pitch, they had Barcelona penned in.

Elanga skinned the left-back repeatedly. He supplied a perfect low cross for Gordon, unmarked, six yards out, in the seventh minute. He swung his right foot and hit fresh air.

Then Elanga found Barnes at the far post on 25 minutes. He shot low and on target but the keeper made a straightforward save.

Barca rode out the storm and by half-time were far more assured.

After the interval they dominated possession.

Schar took a heavy blow to the face from a piledriver and looked groggy despite treatment. Rashford escaped him in the box and headed powerfully into the corner of Pope’s net.

A few minutes later, with four United substitutes on the pitch, the Manchester United reject slammed home an unstoppable second via the bar.

What might have been if Murphy, who supplied the cross for Gordon to score with a scuffed effort late on, had started instead of the ineffective Barnes.

If Schar had been replaced before Rashford’s first?

If Gordon had been on form?

Make no mistake, this was a missed opportunity against a less-than-watertight defence.

United will almost certainly now need points from at least one of their four away games if they are to progress.

They have about 64 hours to recover before the kick-off at Bournemouth.

That game will be no easier than tonight’s.

Newcastle 1 Barcelona 2 – Thursday 18 September 2025 8pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Gordon 90

Barcelona:

Rashford 58, 67

Possession was Newcastle 36% Barcelona 64%

Total shots were Newcastle 10 Barcelona 19

Shots on target were Newcastle 6 Barcelona 5

Corners were Newcastle 6 Barcelona 4

Touches in the box Newcastle 28 Barcelona 38

Newcastle team v Barcelona:

Pope, Trippier (Botman 76), Schar (Thiaw 63), Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton (Willock 62), Barnes (Woltemade 62), Gordon, Elanga (Murphy 63)

Unused subs:

Thompson, Ramsdale, Hall, Krafth, Osula, Miley, A Murphy

These seven remaining NUFC Champions League fixtures for Newcastle United:

Wednesday 1st October: Union SG vs Newcastle United (kick-off 5:45pm BST)

Tuesday 21st October: Newcastle United vs Benfica (kick-off 8pm BST)

Wednesday 5th November: Newcastle United vs Athletic Club (kick-off 8pm BST)

Tuesday 25th November: Olympique Marseille vs Newcastle United (kick-off 8pm BST)

Wednesday 10th December: Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United (kick-off 8pm BST)