Barcelona returned to their Champions League campaign on Tuesday, facing Newcastle United at St. James’ Park for the first leg of their Round of 16 showdown.
Unfortunately for Barcelona, the outcome was not ideal, as they were held to a 1:1 draw. They might have faced a worse outcome had it not been for a late penalty from Lamine Yamal that salvaged the situation.
Advertisement
This lackluster performance against Newcastle highlighted Barcelona’s ongoing struggles and raised questions about Hansi Flick’s record in away matches in the Champions League.
Flick’s record in UCL away matches
According to AS, while Flick has fostered a more competitive mentality within the squad, the Blaugrana continue to struggle to assert their dominance in Europe away from home.
Since Flick took over, Barcelona has won just 50% of their away matches in the Champions League, which includes two draws and four defeats.
Flick’s team had to settle for a disappointing result against Newcastle. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Advertisement
Last season, the club experienced defeats in Monaco, Dortmund, and Milan. This year, the trend continued with a significant loss at Stamford Bridge, alongside draws at places like Bruges (3-3) and now Newcastle (1-1).
Even in matches where Barcelona seemed to be in control, such as holding a 4-0 first-leg lead against Dortmund last year, they stumbled in the return, losing 3-1.
The stark difference between Barcelona’s domestic and European performance is becoming increasingly clear.
In La Liga, Flick has maintained an impressive win rate of 70%, although that figure has slightly declined this season due to losses at both the Bernabeu and Metropolitano.
Advertisement
Currently, with several key players sidelined, including full-backs Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde, and midfielder Frenkie de Jong, Flick acknowledged that he would have accepted a draw in Newcastle before the match began.
However, with the current lack of sharpness from experienced players like Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, it is crucial for Flick to ensure that his squad improves ahead of the second leg at Camp Nou.