We asked Dean Wilkins to give us his match ratings and player comments after Newcastle 1 Barcelona 1.
Ramsdale 7
A tricky one, as apart from the penalty, didn’t have a serious save to make.
The team in front of him played so well, limited to only one other effort on target that was straight at him.
Distribution was fine and he will feel cheated to have not kept a clean sheet.
Trippier 8
Very good against the likes of Raphinha and then excellent on the ball.
Some stunning passes down the line to set Elanga behind the left-back.
Thiaw 7.5
Like the rest of the defence, played so well.
Docked half a point when a tired challenge saw him leave his leg planted and gave the penalty away. A shame when in reality we had the numbers there to cover.
Burn 8
What a signing he has been for Eddie Howe.
An incredible four years and turning up time and time again for these big occasions.
Hall 9
The lifelong United fans is just hilariously brilliant. I laugh when in the tightest of situations, he time and again drifts past man after man, making it look effortless.
He is so laidback and unassuming, a quiet character who lets his football do the talking, I think this is partly the reason why the outside world has been so slow to realise how truly brilliant he is.
Man of the match? Between him and one of our midfielders.
Tonali 8
He is most definitely back in the groove.
Started the season so well, had a bit of a dip and that coinciding with the birth of his first child was undoubtedly linked.
Now however, Tonali match after match is very good again. With Bruno and others missing, so much reliance on him.
When able to start alongside another two fully fit and in-form midfielders, no surprise he looks even better.
Ramsey 8
An excellent player. Badly missed against Man City at the weekend.
He is also very much in the groove, fully settled and fully fit. Another excellent Eddie Howe signing.
You can see his quality shining through now. He carries the ball so well and very rarely loses possession.
Joelinton 9
A toss of a coin with Lewis Hall for MOTM, you can decide.
In this kind of form he is fearsome.
Barnes 8
Played to a good level all the way through this match.
Then so unlucky to see his cute effort come back off the post (one of those curling efforts into right top corner is long overdue).
Got his and Newcastle’s due reward when scoring on 86 minutes.
Elanga 7
I think clearly a confidence player.
Overall, he has definitely improved on the early months of the season.
Has more confidence and doing better, now he just needs to take those confidence levels higher again.
A bit chicken and the egg, as I think once he starts making better decisions and executing them, then the goals and assists will flow. However, the goals and assists is what will give him that confidence and allow him to relax more.
Nobody would claim he has been a hugely successful signing so far BUT clearly he has some great raw ingredients, especially pace.
Osula 6.5
Eddie Howe clearly wanted pace through the middle in this contest and with Anthony Gordon only able to have a place on the bench due to illness, Will Osula got the start.
I don’t think he played badly but certainly through the middle, he struggles. Far better when coming off the bench and playing on the right.
Had some moments, especially a very good interchange to set Elanga away. Whilst unlucky to see a header just clear the bar.
I just don’t think though he is a natural striker and not the awareness of somebody like Gordon, nor of course his elite quality. Still played his part though and can be pleased with his contribution, albeit not at the levels of our best players.
SUBS
Jacob Murphy 7.5
A superb cross for the Barnes goal and did well overall.
Had a very decent chance which fell to his left foot and was wasted.
Anthony Gordon 8
As soon as he came on, Newcastle far more cutting edge up front.
Is one of our elite players and if he had been fit enough to start, then I think United would have won this game.
He came on and United carried more threat, his cool pass set Barnes up to hit the post.
Gordon will be a key player next Wednesday if United are to make the Champions League quarter-finals.
Tino Livramento 7
Great to have him back and after this second sub appearance, he will certainly be an option for the second leg, might start at Chelsea on Saturday as well.
His pace has been much missed at the back, plus of course his ability to effortlessly get up and down the pitch.
Joe Willock N/A
Not on long enough to rate.