Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha killed off Newcastle United’s Champions League dream as FC Barcelona survived a first-half fright to book a quarter-final place in style.
The 37-year-old Poland international hit the Magpies with a quick-fire double before the Brazilian struck to seal a 7-2 win on the night – a 13th on the trot since their return to the Nou Camp – and an 8-3 aggregate victory on a night when Eddie Howe’s side imploded.
Anthony Elanga’s first-half brace had cancelled out Raphinha’s early opener and Marc Bernal’s free-header, but Lamine Yamal’s stoppage-time penalty opened the floodgates with Fermin Lopez, Lewandowski and Raphinha again doing the damage.
Neither side will have been happy with their defensive display, but the five-time winners eventually took a chaotic game by the scruff of the neck to punish a series of errors as the visitors succumbed to largely self-inflicted wounds.
Howe had plenty to be happy about in the opening 45 minutes, but ultimately his team, which last conceded seven at Arsenal in December 2012, head home well beaten to begin preparations for Sunday’s derby clash with Sunderland, a fixture for which midfielder Sandro Tonali is a major doubt.
PA
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