Barcelona 7 – 2 Newcastle

Newcastle’s Champions League dreams were crushed during a 7-2 mauling by Barcelona, as the Spanish side booked their quarter-final spot in rampant style, progressing 8-3 on aggregate.

Newcastle had travelled to Spain in hope of making history – and they did. A joint-record total of goals conceded by an English team in a Champions League match.

Eddie Howe’s side completely collapsed in the second half at the Spotify Camp Nou, with Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski feasting on some truly wretched defending.

Newcastle’s 3,000 fans in the away section – and estimated 7,000 watching elsewhere in the city – will have still believed an upset was on at half-time, when their side trailed 3-2.

It had been such a wild first half, with both sides capitalising on woeful errors, that few could have predicted how the second 45 would go. In the end, it was the worse-case scenario for Newcastle.

Raphinha started the scoring, finished it, set up two more and won a penalty in a stunning individual display. But there were also some magical moments from Lamine Yamal that left Newcastle players scattered across the pitch.

Lewis Hall was sprawled on the floor trying to intercept a Yamal pass in the build-up to the opener in a sign of things to come. There was another gift for Barca’s second, with Kieran Trippier and Sandro Tonali losing Gerard Martin from a free-kick, which allowed him to nod across for Marc Bernal to convert.

But Anthony Elanga twice equalised in the first half as Newcastle went toe-to-toe with their hosts, sparking jubilant celebrations high up in the away section.

The winger was the unlikely hero, trebling his goals total for the club. But those goals would end up being nothing more than a footnote.

The half ended – like the first leg – with Yamal converting a stoppage-time penalty to edge Barca back in front after Trippier’s desperate tug on the arm of Raphinha was eventually spotted after a VAR check.

There were three goals in 10 minutes at the start of the second half as Fermin Lopez and then Lewandowski, first from a corner and then when played in by Yamal, seized on space and mistakes to make it a humbling, humiliating night for Newcastle. Ramsey’s terrible pass for Raphinha to finish off the scoring was particularly bad in a game littered with individual errors.

Newcastle’s Champions League adventure was left in tatters by a team which now must be serious contenders. It’s Atletico Madrid or Tottenham in the last eight for Barca.

For Newcastle, it’s Sunderland at St James’ Park on Sunday. A game Howe and these players dare not lose after this.

Howe: Set-play goals we conceded were unforgiveable

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe:

“Our defending today was not at the level it was a few days ago at Chelsea. As well as we played in the first half – and I thought we were outstanding in many aspects – there were too many individual errors.

“The two set-plays are unforgiveable because you know how good they are in other aspects of their play.”

On the penalty: “We’re bang on half-time, we should be going in 2-2 with a great feeling and anything is possible.

“As it is, we’re going in with a negative feeling. Is it a clear and obvious error?”

On bouncing back against Sunderland: “It’s about making sure we’re mentally and physically ready for a huge game for us and the whole city. It’s a good game for us to go straight into because there’s no time for any other thought.”