Barcelona 3 - Newcastle 1

Barcelona: Bonano; Puyol, Reiziger (Christanval 14'), Frank De Boer, Cocu (Mendieta 16'); Motta, Xavi, Riquelme, Overmars; Dani (Saviola 77'), Kluivert. 4-4-2.
Newcastle: Given; Griffin, O'Brien, Hughes, Bernard; Solano, Dyer, Speed, Robert; Ameobi, Lua Lua (Chopra 84'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 07. Dani. Slid ball wide of keeper after long Xavi cross
1-1. 24. Ameobi. Took pass from Dyer on right of goal to beat Bonano.
2-1. 35. Kluivert. Shot wide of Given after Overmars laid ball across.
3-1. 58. Motta. Glancing header down into goal from Riquelme corner.

Barcelona kept up their Jekyll and Hyde act, beating Newcastle 3-1 to equal Milan's record of ten straight wins in a row in the competition. Their European form is a complete contrast to their performances in the league, where they are in one of the lowest positions ever at this time of the season, and the word was out that Van Gaal could even be fired if he lost to the side managed by ex Barcelona boss Sir Bobby Robson. The Dutch manager was not particularly concerned though, and he once again changed his side around, playing Cocu at left back in place of the suspended Fernando Navarro and giving Dani a rare start up front alongside Kluivert, with Riquelme playing behind the two attackers. Newcastle were missing their first choice strikers Shearer and Bellamy, both suspended, and Robson gave a run out to Lua Lua and England under 21 international Ameobi up front.

After a 24 hours delay due to a waterlogged pitch the match got off to a lively beginning, Dani taking advantage of his chance to get on the end of Xavi's cross to open the scoring in the seventh minute. The defence was thrown into disarray though when Reiziger and Cocu both left the field with injuries soon afterwards, Christanval coming on for his first appearance since a long injury to replace the former and Mendieta acting as makeshift left back for the latter. Before they had time to settle Ameobi took advantage to level the scores, picking up Dyer's pass unmarked on the right to shoot low past Bonano.

The crowd feared the worst when Bonano had to save from Solano, but Kluivert restored the lead with his 100th goal for the club before the break, taking a return pass from Overmars to shoot past Given, who got a hand to the ball but could not stop it going in the net. Newcastle came back after the break, and Ameobi headed just wide and then a few minutes later saw Riquelme clear another header off the line with Bonano beaten. A minute later though Motta headed a third from Riquelme's corner and it was all over. Puyol could have made it four with a battling run through from midfield, but Given got a hand to his shot, and visiting substitute tested Bonano with a late long range effort. But this is Barça's competition this year, and they ended joint top of their group with their next opponents Inter Milan on maximum points.