Champions League: Late Yamal Penalty Earns Barcelona 1st-leg Draw At Newcastle

Lamine Yamal denied Newcastle United a priceless victory with the final kick of the game as Barcelona snatched a draw which sends them into next week’s return as favourites to make the Champions League quarterfinals.

The Spain international struck from the penalty spot in the sixth minutes of added time to cancel out Harvey Barnes’ 86th-minute opener after substitute Dani Olmo had been tripped by defender Malick Thiaw.

A 1-1 draw was harsh on the Magpies, who had enjoyed the better of the game and looked to have grabbed a precious advantage to take to the Nou Camp next Wednesday evening in front of Tino Asprilla, whose hat trick in a 3-2 victory over Barça in the same competition in 1997 remains one of the most famous nights in the Tyneside club’s history.

Eddie Howe’s men were left to lick their wounds but when the dust settles, they will be able to reflect upon a performance which made life distinctly uncomfortable for the five-time winners, who knew they were in a game on the night and will have to steel themselves for more of the same on their own pitch.

Just how different things might have been had Anthony Gordon not been reduced to the role of substitute by illness his side will never know, but his absence prompted Howe to make a big decision when he asked Will Osula, rather than big-money signings Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, to replace him.

Osula might have got the hosts off to the perfect start after being played in behind the visitors’ defence by Lewis Hall’s sixth-minute pass, but he delayed his shot and Gerard Martín recovered to block his attempt.