Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski each scored twice as a rampaging Barcelona eliminated Newcastle United from the Champions League.
In the second leg of this last-16 encounter at the Nou Camp, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe believed his team would grow rather than shrink.
The visitors demonstrated incredible energy by tying twice in a competitive first half through the quick Anthony Elanga, canceling out goals from Raphinha and Marc Bernal.
Even after Lamine Yamal’s penalty put Barcelona ahead 3-2 in first-half stoppage time, Howe’s side remained in the game at halftime.
However, the visitors crumbled after the restart, with Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, and Lewandowski scoring twice to bring their European odyssey to a close.
Newcastle were eventually left to rue the cost of some bad defending, and their night began in the worst possible way when Barcelona pounced on a number of costly errors and Raphinha tucked the ball into the bottom corner after a one-two with Lopez.
However, Newcastle swiftly recovered, as Elanga coolly leveled from close range after receiving Lewis Hall’s drilled cross to the back post.
Those ecstatic Newcastle fans in the away end did not last long after Raphinha floated a free-kick into the box, which Gerard Martin headed back across goal to the unmarked Bernal, who hooked it past Aaron Ramsdale.
However, there were plenty of twists and turns in this topsy-turvy first half, as Newcastle equalized once more after Harvey Barnes found Elanga at the back post, and the Swede finished first time to surprise the Nou Camp.
However, Barcelona was granted the opportunity to reclaim the lead in first-half stoppage time after Kieran Trippier was punished for pulling Raphinha back inside the area following a visual assistant referee (VAR) intervention.
Yamal went forward to score from the spot, precisely like the nerveless 18-year-old did in the first leg at St. James’ Park.
Barcelona then took a two-goal lead five minutes into the second half when Raphinha’s superb first-time pass sent Lopez racing away and the Spaniard tucked the ball past Ramsdale.
The tie then shifted away from Newcastle as Lewandowski headed home from Raphinha’s corner and added another with a drilled finish.
Raphinha made it 7-2 on the night and 8-3 on aggregate after capitalizing on a poor pass by Newcastle midfielder Jacob Ramsey.
Barcelona will now face either Atletico Madrid or Tottenham Hotspur in the quarterfinals.
