5 changes? - Predicted Newcastle team to face Barcelona in Champions League decider
Tonight is the night. A Champions League decider at the Nou Camp, where one of Barcelona or Newcastle United will qualify for this season's quarter-final.
A day after Man City and Chelsea crashed out at the hands of Real Madrid and PSG, we'll be hoping to go one step further against the La Liga giants after last week's 1-1 draw at St James' Park.
The question now, 24 years on from Sir Bobby Robson's trip to the Nou Camp in 2022, is who will Eddie Howe select for tonight's 5.45pm kick-off?
Here is the side we're backing him to go with and why when the team sheets are released at 4.30pm.
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.
My thoughts behind each change
We're expecting five changes from Saturday's 1-0 win at Chelsea, seeing a similar side line up to the one who got the better of Barcelona for much of last week's draw on Tyneside.
At the back, I think Howe will opt for Kieran Trippier's experience, even if there is a temptation to hand Tino Livramento another start. But, after a long time on the sidelines, I'm not sure Tino is going to play twice in a few days, especially when Trippier handled Raphinha so well last week.
A harsh call after his solid display and clean sheet at Chelsea, but I'd expect Sven Botman to drop back down to the bench, meaning a rested Dan Burn returns to marshal Robert Lewandowski.
In midfield, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali should return, providing the latter is fully over his illness, meaning Nick Woltemade and Joe Willock drop down to the bench.
In attack, Anthony Gordon looks a shoe in for that No.9 role, while Anthony Elanga seems to be Howe's go-to pick for this picture, with the Swede's pace something he looked to utilise in our last two meetings with Barcelona this season. With this and Barca's high line in mind, we back Elanga to start over Jacob Murphy down our right.
