UEFA Technical Observer Group explain why Newcastle star was player of the match v Barcelona

Newcastle United approached Tuesday night’s Champions League match, knowing they needed a huge performance against Barcelona.

Eddie Howe and his players with hopes of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League.

With the second leg to follow in eight days time, United knowing they had to stay in the tie.

In the end they were by some distance the better team, Barcelona second best.

Newcastle United doing so many things right but just couldn’t get the goals the performance deserved.

Then in the 86th minute, a great cross from the right by Jacob Murphy and there was Harvey Barnes to fire it home.

The Newcastle United star was named Player of the Match.

With the UEFA Technical Observer Group explaining why: “He displayed clever tactical positioning in both defence and attack, consistently threatening Barcelona’s back line with his runs, which eventually resulted in the opening goal.”

Harvey Barnes was excellent, the whole team put a shift in.

However, my choice of man of the match would have been a contest between Joelinton and Lewis Hall, they were outstanding.

The referee was woeful all night and massively favoured Barcelona, he went over the four minutes as well which allowed Barca to win the penalty that resulted in a non-deserved equaliser.

Newcastle United 1 Barcelona 1 – Wednesday 10 March 2026 8pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Barnes 86

Barcelona:

Yamal 90+6 pen

Possession was Newcastle 46% Barcelona 54%

Total shots were Newcastle 16 Barcelona 9

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Barcelona 2

Corners were Newcastle 9 Barcelona 4

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 38 Barcelona 20

Newcastle team v Barcelona:

Ramsdale, Trippier (Livramento 67), Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Ramsey, Joelinton, Elanga, Barnes (Willock 91), Osula (Gordon 67), Elanga (Jacob Murphy 67)

Unused subs:

Pope, Ruddy, Harris, Botman, Wissa, Woltemade, Alex Murphy, Sean Neave