The Albany Gazette - Barcelona demolish Newcastle 7-2 to reach Champions League quarters

Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha struck twice each for the Catalan giants as Eddie Howe's side crumbled under a scintillating attacking display from the hosts at Camp Nou.

Lamine Yamal, Marc Bernal and Fermin Lopez were also on target as Hansi Flick's side ran riot and recorded a landslide last 16, second leg victory.

The five-time champions are dreaming of lifting the trophy again, 11 years after they last won it, and showcased the attacking firepower which could make their ambition a reality.

By contrast Newcastle were hoping to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history but the Premier League side departed bruised and battered.

Barcelona were outplayed in the 1-1 first-leg draw but pledged to improve back on home soil and claimed an early lead through Raphinha, starting as they meant to go on.

Teenage star Lamine Yamal turned brilliantly away from Malick Thiaw in midfield, leaving the German defender on the turf and released the Brazilian winger.

Raphinha let the ball run to Fermin Lopez and then collected it back, showing poise to hold his shot for a second before slotting into the bottom corner.

Barcelona are notoriously fragile defensively though and Newcastle quickly forced their way back into the game.

The Catalan giants were carved open with just a couple of passes between Lewis Hall and Harvey Barnes, and Anthony Elanga timed his run right to stay onside and sweep past Joan Garcia.

Three minutes later Barca were back in front with 18-year-old midfielder Bernal turning home from close range after Gerard Martin nodded down Raphinha's diagonal free-kick for him to finish.

Yamal was so often Barca's hero on their run to the semi-finals last season but was guilty of a mistake which led to Newcastle's second equaliser.

The teenager attempted a backheel in his own final third and gave the ball away, with Elanga profiting at the back post as he turned home Barnes's cross.

Veteran Polish striker Lewandowski has had a tough season for Barca, looking shorn of confidence, and he spurned two fine chances for the hosts in the first half.

Lewandowski seemed certain to score but Dan Burn made a brilliant block to deny him, and then after visiting goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saved from Raphinha, the striker lacked the agility to turn the rebound home from close range.

With Lewandowski floundering Yamal ran in and hammered high over the bar when he too should have scored.

The Spain international made amends from the spot to give Barca the lead at half-time when veteran defender Trippier pulled back Raphinha.

The former England international was booked after the penalty was given following a VAR review, with Barca angry he was not shown red.

Ramsdale got his fingertips to Yamal's penalty, low to his left, but could not claw it out.

- Procession -

Raphinha sent Lopez through on goal to bag the fourth early in the second half and it broke Toon spirits.

From that point on Newcastle gave up the ghost and Barcelona scored to their heart's content.

Lewandowski nodded home from a corner and celebrated joyously, taking off the mask he has been playing with due to an eye-socket fracture.

The goal was liberation for him and the next chance he got he put away too, producing a lethal finish after a superb Yamal assist.

Jacob Ramsey put Barcelona's seventh on a plate for the swaggering hosts, with a poor pass across the face of his box, which Raphinha intercepted and dispatched clinically.

Fans sent a Mexican wave around the stadium, celebrating the biggest win they have had at Camp Nou since it reopened.

(T.Brown--TAG)