Newcastle v Barcelona LIVE – Rashford double sees Newcastle defeated

Eddie Howe on his decision not to start Nick Woltemade against Barcelona, Jacob Murphy’s fitness and Fabian Schar’s injury – read here.

Marcus Rashford speaking to TNT Sports after netting his first Barcelona goals: “I’m enjoying it all and I think it’s making me a better player.

“It’s been an amazing experience.

“I’m full of excitement. I’m very motivated, determined, and the quality we’ve got in the team excites me alone.

“It’s refreshing to play with these guys. I’ve said it a few times but the team is so young but they play with such confidence, such understanding of the game and it’s not an easy place to come (St James’ Park), especially trying to play the way we play.

“I’ve won here a few times where we’ve not necessarily played the way that we wanted to play but today I think we gave a good account of ourselves, we defended well, and we walked away with the win.”

Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon: “2-0 down to Barca feels like an uphill battle. We got the goal which is testament to our mentality. We were knackered.

“We can be proud of how we played. We gave it our best against one of the top teams in the planet. I didn’t think there was much in the game. We had the better moments but we need to put them away.”

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick on Marcus Rashford’s double: “We always see [this from Rashford] in training and we saw it today. I’m happy for him. In the offense we have a lot of good players and he’s one. I’m happy to have him. He gives us more options to follow the match. It’s great to have him.

“These two goals will help a lot to get Marcus to the next step. It’s so important he has the confidence and feels OK. These goals are unbelievable for him for the next steps.”

The final whistle sounds and Barcelona will leave Tyneside with all the spoils. Two goals from Marcus Rashford, including one rocket from outside of the box, are enough to see the Catalan giants take all three points. Anthony Gordon scored in the 90th minute to bring the tie to within one goal, but it was too little too late for the Magpies who will be disappointed following a good performance. Newcastle with an unwelcome reminder of how one moment of quality can be enough to decide the outcome of a game in this competition. Barcelona weathered the early storm that St. James’ Park presented, and leave Tyneside with all three points as they begin their Champions League campaign with a most impressive away win in hostile territory. Stay tuned on this blog for the managers’ reactions.

Tonali sees his shot saved and that looks like Newcastle.s final chance gone.

A blatant shirt pull from Casadó to stop the Newcastle attack and he is booked.

Barcelona are still attacking here! There’s no taking it to the corner for the Catalan giants, they want another!

Barcelona attempt to slow the game down as Torres is replaced by Casadó.

Newcastle have just won the ball back and will look to go long! St. James’ Park is alive and kicking once more!

Seven minutes will follow – there’s time to go yet! Can the Magpies do it?

Gordon scores to take it to within one goal with minutes to play! A terrific ball from Guimaraes is met by the Englishman and Newcastle are back in it!

Martín is replaced by García, and Rashford makes way for Olmo. What a way to return to England for Rashford. 2 moments of magic and he has almost certainly won Barcelona the three points bar a late Newcastle comeback.

Rashford looks in some pain following a collision with Thiaw, he’s back up on his feet but that looks a nasty one.

You couldn’t say these Newcastle players lack fight. While St. James’ Park has fallen silent, the players are still giving it their all.

Trippier makes way for Botman, as Newcastle switch to a back three.

Fermín López has been booked.

Those two goals have understandably taken the wind out of Newcastle’s sails. There’s over 15 minutes to turn the game around, but the Magpies will need a goal soon if they are to overcome the deficit.

Cubarsi goes down and is subsequently replaced by Chistensen, as Lewandowski also makes way for Ferran Torres.

Well that’s a man who’s enjoying his football again! Rashford uses his quick feet to get away from the defender and rifles one into the top corner from outside the box! St. James’ is stunned, Rashford and Barcelona in dreamland!

Woltemade makes his European debut here at St. James’ Park. A goal in his Newcastle debut last weekend, can he repeat his heroics in his European debut?

Wow. A big statement from Eddie Howe there, who knows his team need to be kicked into life.

Thiaw replaces the injured Schar, Murphy replaces Elanga who has been terrific, Woltemade replaces Barnes and Willock replaces the booked Joelinton.

Schar is still feeling the effects of his earlier head injury and looks destined for substitution here.

Rashford becomes the first English player to score for Newcastle since Gary Lineker in1989! He joins elite company and that will do his confidence a load of good.