Credit: Imago

Oliver Walton

Tue 10 March 2026 22:09, UK

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Late drama at St James’ Park saw Newcastle United draw 1-1 with Barcelona in the Champions League round of 16 first leg after Lamine Yamal’s last-ditch equaliser cancelled out Harvey Barnes’ late strike.

Newcastle took the initiative against their Spanish counterparts early on, and went close as Sandro Tonali saw a shot cleared off the line by Pau Cubarsi.

They continued to push for the opener and nearly had it early in the second half as Jacob Murphy blazed an effort over from close range.

Time ticked on towards the latter stages before Barnes found the breakthrough in the 86th minute as he turned Murphy’s cross past Joan Garcia.

Malick Thiaw then hauled Dani Olmo down in the box in the 94th minute, and Yamal converted the spot-kick to seal a draw.

Newcastle travel to Barcelona in their next Champions League match with an uphill battle to win the tie, and Football Insider have looked at three decisions that referee Marco Guida got wrong at St James’ Park.

Fermin Lopez deserved a yellow card for foul on Lewis Hall

Guida officiated the opening stages with an air of caution that actually worked against Newcastle, as the visitors were able to get away with numerous dodgy challenges.

Magpies left-back Hall had the ball on the flank and was looking to run upfield with it in the 12th minute when Lopez tugged him down with no attempt to play the ball.

It was a cynical challenge that saw him with his hands all over Hall, which infuriated Eddie Howe and the St James’ faithful, but the young Spaniard somehow came away without a booking.

Sandro Tonali should not have been booked for Raphinha challenge

Guida soon decided to get his cards out for the first time in the game, but much to the frustration of the home players and crowd, it was to book Tonali in the 33rd minute.

He was involved in a tangle with Raphinha that saw the Barca man fall to the floor under pressure from the Newcastle midfielder, and Guida decided to caution Tonali despite the challenge being his first foul of the match.

Tonali was certainly unfortunate to receive a yellow for the challenge, with the referee needing to use it as a warning rather than go straight to his book.

Lamine Yamal deserved a yellow for barge on Hall

Yamal was ultimately the man with the final say as he scored a late penalty for 1-1, but should have been ruled out of the second leg after a clear foul on Hall that went unpunished.

It was the 40th minute when the electric teenager barged into the Englishman with no airs or graces about him, and Guida was lenient in his decision not to pull out a yellow card.

He was walking a tightrope during the game, with another booking set to rule him out of next week’s game at the Camp Nou, and can count himself lucky that he is allowed to play a part in the second leg.