First-leg scorer senses self-belief to reach last eight
‘In the Champions League we have hit our top form’
Harvey Barnes believes Newcastle are primed for historic success against Barcelona after showing they are more than capable of living with them in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Barnes’s 86th-minute goal for 1-0 at St James’ Park on Tuesday was cancelled out by Lamine Yamal’s penalty with the last kick of stoppage time. But Newcastle will travel to the Camp Nou for next Wednesday’s return with confidence, Barnes’s assertion that they were the better team brooking little argument and reflecting the mood inside their dressing room.
Inspired by a driving performance from the left-back Lewis Hall against Lamine Yamal, Newcastle dealt well with the pressure of their first Champions League knockout game. They restricted Barcelona to few clear chances and harried them to such an extent that their opponents had to work extremely hard to establish any kind of passing rhythm.
