Three takeaways from Barcelona 7-2 Newcastle United | UEFA Champions League Round of 16 | OneFootball

It is not every day that Barcelona score seven goals in a game, not even under Hansi Flick.

But that was what they pulled off last night at the Spotify Camp Nou, continuing their dream run at their beloved home stadium.

Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski bagged braces while Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, and Marc Bernal all had a goal each to their name as Barcelona dismantled Newcastle United by a 7-2 scoreline.

The first half may have been far closer than one would imagine, but it was virtually a no-contest after the break as the Spanish side inflicted one of the season’s heaviest defeats on the English giants and booked a ticket to the quarterfinals.

Barça Universal brings you three takeaways from Barcelona 7-2 Newcastle United (8-3 agg).

A second-half of dreams

Barcelona were ruthless in the second half. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Barcelona and Newcastle United fought as equals for the opening 45 minutes at Spotify Camp Nou, and it was again only a Lamine Yamal penalty that separated the two teams at the break.

Credit to the opponents, they created good openings with swift passing sequences and pressed with intensity in the opening period, making Barcelona uncomfortable in possession.

Lacking control in the midfield, Barcelona never really got comfortable in the half and did not dictate the terms of play for most of the opening 45 minutes.

The second half, however, was one they will remember dreamily for a long time to come and a lot of it stemmed from the midfield regaining control.

Pedri and Marc Bernal slowed down the proceedings for Barcelona after the break, taking control and shielding off pressure. They broke Newcastle’s rhythm and wore them down physically and mentally.

As a result of the same, the chances kept coming at the other end, and Barcelona ran away with the result, scoring three goals in just nine minutes.

Barcelona were simply unplayable after the break, showing exactly why they are so feared in the footballing world for their attacking prowess. The firepower kept on coming, and they could well have finished the game with ten goals.

The win is not just a result for the books but a statement made loud and clear to the world that this team means business.

The epitome of clinical finishing

Barcelona ran riot against Newcastle United. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

What set Wednesday’s Barcelona apart from recent versions that have taken to the field in the past months was the clinical finishing and their ability to bury chances.

Barcelona under Hansi Flick have never suffered a dearth of chances to score. Their most painful nights, inevitably, have come in games where they have failed to convert the said chances.

After a long, every single player in Barcelona’s attack clicked last night and the result was absolute mayhem in Newcastle United’s box as the chances flowed freely and the football danced at the Spotify Camp Nou.

Raphinha was back to his blistering best on the night, carrying forward his form from the 5-2 win over Sevilla and racking up two goals and two assists on the night.

Lamine Yamal scored once from the penalty spot and could well have had a hat-trick with a little more composure in front of goal. He also racked up the assist for Robert Lewandowski’s goal and created the first goal on his own.

Lewandowski may not have shone in the first half, but his two chances in the second period were taken with conviction as he stormed deeper into the UEFA Champions League history books with yet another victim.

Fermin Lopez, meanwhile, was brilliant once again as he scored once and assisted another goal, taking his chances and making the most of them.

With 12 goals in the last two games, Barcelona are back to their best in terms of finishing and the team are lethal as long as they continue with the said momentum.

Quarterfinal date set

Having stormed their way into the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona now set up a date with a familiar rival in the last-8 stage of the competition.

Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid next. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Indeed, they will take on local rivals Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinal of the competition which will be played over two legs next month.

Notably, Atletico Madrid have ‘stolen’ the seeding advantages of Tottenham Hotspur, who they knocked out, and will thus have the second leg at home. Barcelona, thus, must make the most of the first leg, which will be played at the Spotify Camp Nou.

What is also queer is the schedule for next month, which sees Barcelona’s UCL games against Atletico Madrid take place immediately after the duo meets in La Liga.

The first game between the two sides will be immediately after the international break at the Riyadh Air Mertopolitano. They will then face off days later at the Spotify Camp Nou for the first leg of the quarterfinal and then a week later for the second.

Two games separate Barcelona from where they reached in the competition last season, and there is no reason for the team to believe they cannot go all the way.

At this point, however, what is important is for them to take it one game at a time and ensure that playing the second leg away from home does not hurt their chances.