According to a report by BBC Sport, Newcastle United welcomed FC Barcelona to St James’ Park for their first-leg encounter in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. Despite being the better side for most of the game, the Magpies were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Barcelona.
A late penalty from Lamine Yamal cancelled out Newcastle United’s earlier lead, which came from Harvey Barnes, helping Barcelona escape defeat.
Let’s take a look at the three worst players for Barcelona in today’s UCL clash:
1. Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski barely made an impact in Newcastle United’s defensive area and struggled to influence Barcelona’s attack. The Polish international managed just one shot on target, which came from a clear goalscoring opportunity that he failed to convert. Overall, it was a frustrating night for the striker.
2. Raphinha
Raphinha delivered an underwhelming performance in this crucial encounter for the Catalan side. The Brazilian international looked ineffective going forward, misplacing passes in key attacking moments and failing to trouble Newcastle United’s defence. He ultimately fell short of expectations.
3. Fermín López
Fermín López also struggled to make an impact against Newcastle United. The Spanish international rarely threatened the opposition and found it difficult to cope with the physicality of Newcastle’s players. It was a quiet outing for him and arguably one of his weakest performances of the night. See more