Barcelona (A) – Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible XI and prediction

It's quite something that Newcastle United face Sunderland on Sunday, yet that's not even the biggest game of our week.

On Wednesday night, at an earlier kick-off time of 5.45pm, Eddie Howe's Mags head to the Nou Camp with a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on offer to the winner.

Last week's 1-1 draw was both brilliant and bruising. We outplayed them for so much of an electric night at St James' Park, and looked more likely to make it 2-0 than concede at the other end for much of it, only for a late Lamine Yamal penalty to draw us level with the Spaniard's first meaningful shot of the night.

We had to swiftly move on from that disappointment and we did exactly that on Saturday night, delivering a dogged display full of defensive resilience to beat Chelsea 1-0 in the Premier League: the perfect confidence-booster and blueprint of how we can hurt Barcelona? It was exactly what we needed and should do us the world of good heading into this one.

Speaking to the media from the Nou Camp on Tuesday afternoon, Howe said:

"The details of this game are going to be important. Dealing with their strengths and also trying to produce our best moments. I think when you consider the two games we've had against Barcelona, we've had some really good passages of play, some good opportunities to score, but we haven't beaten them so that's the challenge."

"The players are probably as confident as they have been at any stage this season. I think our recent performances have been really strong.

"The individuals in our team are performing at a really high level so hopefully we're peaking at the right time but we need everything to go our way tomorrow. We don't underestimate the size of the task but we believe in ourselves at the same time."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQjdLm5bUlQ&pp=ugUHEgVlbi1HQg%3D%3D

Team news

Sandro Tonali (ill) trained with the group at the Nou Camp on Tuesday and should return, with Joe Willock also OK despite a knock picked up at Chelsea.

Lewis Miley has not travelled, Bruno Guimaraes has (to support the team) but won't be available to play, while Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth remain out.

Barcelona have Gavi fit again, but they'll be without Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde and Frenkie De Jong once again. Eric Garcia has been tipped to replace Ronaldo Araujo at right-back.

Predicted XI

(4-3-3): Ramsdale – Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Ramsey, Tonali, Joelinton – Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.

OUT: Livramento, Botman, Willock, Woltemade, Murphy.

IN: Trippier, Burn, Tonali, Joelinton, Elanga.

Match prediction

Barcelona have been near perfect at the Nou Camp for a few months now. They've scored three or more goals in every home game (nine in a row) since mid December and their only loss at the Nou Camp since last May was a 2-1 defeat to PSG in October.

Daunting? Yes, and a reminder of the challenge we face, but Barcelona and Hansi Flick will be well aware of the challenge they face based on the way we handled them at St James' Park last week.

Of course, this is a different test, away from home comforts and against a side who seem to come alive in their own stadium. But, as we saw at Arsenal in last year's Carabao Cup, at Wembley 12 months ago, at PSG a few months ago and at Chelsea on Saturday, this team are capable of competing with the best on the road when we REALLY turn up.

I think we'll score and cause problems on the counter, but keeping them out at the other end is something very few sides have achieved at the Nou Camp.

My heart says a 2-2 draw, taking Barca all the way to extra time, but my head says a narrow defeat in the 90 despite our best efforts.

Prediction: Barcelona 2-1 Newcastle

Howay the lads!