Magpies could rue their inability to break Barca

ILLUSTRIOUS VISITORS LET OFF THE HOOK

- By LEE RYDER Chief Newcastle writer [e-mail] @lee_ryder

NEWCASTLE United had Barcelona exactly where they wanted them - and Hansi Flick knew as much.

A Barcelona side who had won three trophies last season and reached the semifinals of the Champions League last spring, were on the ropes after a gutsy effort from the Magpies.

The truth is 1-0 may not have been the ideal scoreline for Newcastle had they clung on to their slender lead, but it would have been rich reward for a night of hard work.

The dream scoreline would have been 2-0 or 3-0, but the stakes could not be higher at this stage in the competition as the cream of Europe now start showing what they are made of.