Champions LeagueNewcastle Utd...0 Barcelona...2Four months and six games after it should have ended, Newcastle United bowed out of the Champions League last night, writes Michael Walker at St James' Park
Last November Juventus had done Newcastle a huge favour by winning unexpectedly at Dynamo Kiev, while Newcastle won dramatically at Feyenoord. But last night the Magpies were unable to keep their side of the bargain and ultimately events in Leverkusen did not matter.
Newcastle lost to two poor goals, from Patrick Kluivert and Thiago Motta, midway through the second half, yet it was up front where the hosts truly lost the game.
Craig Bellamy mentioned after last Saturday's win at Charlton he would like to be the recipient of the odd opportunity created by his colleagues, and here he was presented with a string of them. All were missed, the closest being a 19th-minute shot that hit the woodwork. Had they fallen to Alan Shearer - in the presence of Sven-Goran Eriksson - it might have been different.
Yet they can reflect on a voyage that has brought unforeseen riches. According to reports from France some of the cash, about £6 million, will be spent on Marseille's 23-year-old striker Cyril Chapuis.
It seems Newcastle are already planning their next Champions League campaign.
Barcelona fulfilled the UEFA requirement to field a strong team last night. But then the Catalans had their undefeated record in this season's competition to defend. And a new manager, Raddy Antic.
It was patience versus its opposite, particularly when news came through shortly before half-time that there had been an Internazionale goal in Germany, and it was met with a huge groan.
For effort alone Newcastle deserved a better response, but at the start of the second half it was again the players rousing the fans, Titus Bramble flicking a Robert corner goalward. Valdes would have claimed it but Gabri headed off the line.
Barcelona just soaked up whatever they had to and passed their way forward. It was compact and composed. Newcastle were stretched and desperately in need of individual inspiration.
It did not come. What did, instead, was an individual error. It was from defender Bramble and it was enormous.
On the hour the effective Motta punted a hopeful ball forward and Kluivert chased it out of a sense of duty. But Bramble quickly took control of the situation. Shielding the ball, the central defender tried to shepherd it towards Given.
The goalkeeper stalled and so Bramble should have cleared. But in his delay Kluivert nipped in to nick the ball past Given and into the corner.
When Bellamy then put another two chances over and wide, you knew then it was not to be. A feeling confirmed when Motta touched in the second.
Guardian Service
NEWCASTLE: Given, Griffin, O'Brien, Bramble, Bernard, Solano (Ameobi 67), Dyer, Jenas, Robert (Viana 66), Shearer, Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Harper, Hughes, LuaLua, Kerr, Caldwell. Booked: Bernard.
BARCELONA: Valdes, Reiziger, De Boer, Andersson, Gabri, Mendieta (Iniesta 66), Motta, Xavi (Gerard 45), Rochemback, Kluivert (Sergio 70), Riquelme. Subs Not Used: Bonano, Overmars, Christanval, Oleguer. Booked: Xavi. Goals: Kluivert 60, Motta 74.
Referee: Jan Wegereef (Holland).
