BARCELONA – Hansi Flick’s halftime speech inspired Barcelona to dominate the second half against Newcastle United, securing a Champions League quarterfinal against Atlético Madrid with an impressive 7-2 victory.
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Barça led 3-2 at halftime but exploded offensively in the second half, netting four unanswered goals to outclass their Premier League rivals.
Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski each scored twice, while Marc Bernal, Lamine Yamal, and Fermín López also found the net. Newcastle’s two goals came from Anthony Elanga.
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“What we discussed at halftime, the players executed it well, which is always encouraging,” Flick said during the post-match press conference. “The first half was challenging, and we lost too many balls. Newcastle capitalized on their pace with effective transitions, making it tough to defend against them. In the second half, we aimed to control the game better, push them deeper, and execute our style. It worked well.” He added, “Our young team showed great improvement and confidence in the second half.”
When asked about Flick’s halftime instructions, Bernal commented, “He emphasized the need for better control against their pressure. They were challenging us in our area, and we needed to exploit those spaces to score goals, and I believe we accomplished that.”
Both teams contributed to an exciting first half, with Raphinha and Bernal each taking the lead twice for Barça, only to have Elanga respond both times, despite having previously scored just once for Newcastle.
The momentum shifted just before halftime, however, when Yamal converted a penalty after Kieran Trippier fouled Raphinha.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe noted that this incident appeared to affect his team’s morale. “I don’t think we psychologically recovered from that decision,” he remarked. “In the second half, our energy dipped, and we didn’t respond well when the game slipped away from us. That timing was incredibly difficult for us.”
Barça found their rhythm in the second half, with Fermín scoring after receiving a brilliant pass from Raphinha to extend the lead to 4-2.
“We had a couple of mistakes in the first half that cost us,” defender Gerard Martín explained to the media. “We were feeling a bit insecure and lacking fluidity. In the second half, playing at home motivated us to maintain our momentum, improve our performance, and ultimately find the spaces to create opportunities.”
Lewandowski then netted two quick goals, ending a three-match goal drought, while also becoming the oldest player to score twice in a Champions League match at 37.
Flick expressed his happiness at Lewandowski’s performance, hoping this would spark a resurgence in form for the LaLiga leaders as they continue to compete on multiple fronts. “It hasn’t been easy for our strikers, given the constant pressure to deliver goals,” he said. “I’m thrilled for Lewy; he’s extraordinary in these matches and remains one of the best strikers around.”
Injuries plagued both teams during this high-stakes match, with Howe stating that Sandro Tonali may not make it for Sunday’s derby against Sunderland. Meanwhile, Barça plans to assess Eric García and Joan García on Thursday.
Flick’s squad will next face Rayo Vallecano at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday, ahead of the international break.