"Image source, Getty Images St James' Park was on its feet. There was certainly no faulting Newcastle's effort in this loss against Barcelona - right up until the last breath. A double from Marcus Rashford had put Barcelona in command, but Newcastle rallied and forward Anthony Gordon pulled a goal back in the 90th minute. However, Eddie Howe's team were still left to ponder what might have been."
""A lot of commitment, a lot of heart from the players," the Newcastle head coach said. "I thought it was a good performance without being a great one and, to beat Barcelona, it needs to be a great one. "We had the chances. Two big moments in the first half that we didn't take and, ultimately, when you concede the first goal, the game swings on that moment.""
"It was set up to be one of those "magical" nights as Howe termed it. "Back in black and white," the AC/DC-themed banner screamed in the East Stand before the game. It was accompanied by a huge tifo of Monty the Magpie, the club's mascot, standing in between two amps. Newcastle were back in the Champions League and they were not about to quietly take their seat at Europe's top table as they faced Barcelona, the five-time winners."
Newcastle United lost 2-1 to Barcelona in their Champions League opener after Marcus Rashford scored twice and Anthony Gordon pulled one back in the 90th minute. St James' Park produced a raucous atmosphere with an AC/DC-themed banner and a huge tifo of Monty the Magpie. Tino Asprilla and Mark Robson were among the crowd. Newcastle created clear chances and missed two significant opportunities in the first half. The concession of the first goal changed the game's momentum. Fans applauded the team despite the defeat, reflecting appreciation for the players' commitment and heart.
Read at www.bbc.com
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