In a post shared by @aljazeera_sport, 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal proved to be the hero for Barcelona, converting a 97th-minute penalty to secure a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United. The Champions League Round of 16 first leg at St. James’ Park was a rollercoaster of emotions, with the English side nearly clinching their first win over the Catalans since 1997.
Newcastle had taken the lead in the 86th minute through Harvey Barnes, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. However, a late foul in the box allowed Yamal to step up under immense pressure. The youngster’s composure has once again ignited comparisons to legendary figures in Spanish football, while Newcastle fans were left devastated by the “heartbreak” of the late equalizer.
The result leaves the tie perfectly balanced heading into the second leg at the Camp Nou on March 18. The match has dominated European soccer trends over the last 12 hours, with social media debating the VAR decision that led to the decisive penalty.
The Newcastle United Official X account posted, “Heartbreak for Newcastle. Yamal sends the goalkeeper the wrong way” to level the scores. CNA Sport noted that “it finishes level in the first leg” after a night of high drama that saw other English clubs like Tottenham suffer heavy defeats elsewhere.
Echotitbits take: This match lived up to the Champions League hype. For Newcastle, it’s a missed opportunity to take a lead to Spain, but for Barcelona, it’s further proof that Yamal is the “real deal” under pressure. The second leg will be a tactical chess match, and Newcastle will need to find a way to silence the Camp Nou crowd if they want to cause a historic upset.
Source: Sky Sport — https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11945/13517409/newcastle-1-1-barcelona-lamine-yamal-scores-penalty-with-last-kick-of-game-to-rescue-draw-for-visitors March 10, 2026
Photo credit: Sky Sport
