Newcastle United travel to Barcelona for a high-stakes Champions League second-leg clash with the tie delicately poised at 1-1, but Eddie Howe faces a selection headache as four key players risk being suspended for a potential quarter-final against Atletico Madrid or Tottenham.
Newcastle United aim for a historic quarter-final berth as they face Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Following a dramatic 1-1 draw at St James’ Park—where Harvey Barnes’ late opener was cancelled out by Lamine Yamal’s 96th-minute penalty—the winner-takes-all encounter kicks off at 5:45pm GMT.
Eddie Howe’s side enters the fray boosted by a weekend victory over Chelsea, while Barcelona remains unbeaten at home this season.
Disciplinary concerns loom large for the Magpies, as Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock, Joelinton, and Dan Burn are all one booking away from a Champions League ban.
Should any be cautioned and Newcastle progress, they would miss the first leg of the quarter-final.
Pundits have noted that Barcelona duo Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez “escaped bookings for cynical fouls” in the first leg, leaving them available for this decisive return fixture in Catalonia.