The Champions League last-16 begins this week with all six of the English teams still remaining in the competition.
While Liverpool and Arsenal will fancy their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle and Tottenham know they face an uphill task.
Newcastle host Barcelona in the first leg of their tie on Tuesday night in a repeat of a group-stage encounter in September. That encounter saw Barcelona prevail as 2-1 winners with Marcus Rashford scoring a brace for the visitors.
While the on-loan winger took the plaudits that night, Barca were missing their talisman in Lamine Yamal who was absent due to a groin injury.
‘For me, it’s a shame he’s not playing,’ Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said during his pre-match conference ahead of that match. ‘I’m disappointed that we don’t get to see him at his best playing in the game.’
Fast-forward almost six months to now and Howe will get his wish at St James’ Park on Tuesday night. Although he may regret those words come full-time.
Lamine Yamal will look to torment Newcastle when Barcelona face them on Tuesday night
Marcus Rashford scored a brace as Barca won 2-1 at Newcastle in September without Yamal
On Saturday, Yamal underlined his importance to the Spanish giants once more with the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao.
It was a goal worthy to win any match as he collected the ball inside the right-hand side of the penalty box before curling an effort in off the far post.
It was his third matchwinner this season, the most of anyone 18-years-old or younger in Europe’s top five leagues this season (Bundesliga, LaLiga, Ligue 1, Premier League and Serie A).
Wearing the iconic No 10 jersey, his finish is one that Barcelona fans have often seen in the past from their greatest-ever player in Lionel Messi; and the parallels between the two in general are not dissimilar.
That strike was the 18-year-old’s 19th in 36 games this season – a landmark goal in more ways than one. It means he has surpassed his previous best goal-return in a single term. That came last year when he scored 18 in 55 games, he has 19 in 19 matches fewer.
His tally of 19 was bolstered with a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Villarreal at the Nou Camp on February 28, his first career treble and took him past 100 goal contributions as a professional already.
Furthermore, he now has 50 career goals (44 for Barcelona and six for Spain) at a much younger age than Messi and his perennial rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Yamal has reached the feat at just 18 years and 237 days old – two years quicker than Messi (20 years and 315 days) and three years earlier than Ronaldo (21 years and 297 days).
It’s not all just about the goals though as alluded to earlier. He has 15 assists alongside his 19 goals this season, underlining the different ways he hurts opposition.
‘We’re already seeing what Lamine can do – he puts it right in the top corner, and there’s nothing the keeper can do,’ Barca team-mate Pedri told Movistar post-match on Saturday.
‘He’s very young, and he’s only going to get better.
‘What he has to do is not settle, to keep going like this, keep working and enjoying himself out there on the pitch, because he gives us a lot.’
Yamal scored a stunning strike to give Barcelona a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday
Yamal’s stats this season in all competitions for Barcelona – provided by Sofascore
Yamal has only faced English club opposition once in his young career – a 3-0 defeat at Chelsea in November, something he will look to atone for at St James’ Park.
In September it was Rashford on the left wing that made the difference for Barcelona. If the Catalan club emerge victorious once again then don’t be surprised if the magic comes from Yamal down their right flank.
Lewis Hall, Newcastle’s likely left-back, you have been warned and only time will tell if Howe will relish seeing the Spanish star in full flight against his side.
