Lamine Yamal late penalty breaks Newcastle hearts in Champions League thriller

Lamine Yamal once again showed remarkable composure as he buried a 96th-minute penalty to earn Barcelona a 1-1 draw against Newcastle in their Champions League last-16 first leg.

With his team trailing late on, the 18-year-old stepped up under huge pressure after Malick Thiaw’s foul and calmly slotted home, leaving Newcastle players and fans devastated. It went down as the second-latest game-tying penalty in Champions League history, further underlining the youngster’s growing reputation on the biggest stage.

Yamal’s impact this season has been immense. Across just seven Champions League appearances, he has already scored four goals and provided three assists, making him one of Barcelona’s most decisive attacking threats. His ability to influence games so consistently at such a young age has given Hansi Flick’s side a new dimension in the final third.

Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes admitted the late strike was “really hard to take”, while Eddie Howe called the penalty “soft” but insisted the tie remains open ahead of the return leg at Camp Nou. For Barcelona, though, Yamal’s coolness in the key moment could prove vital in deciding who eventually reaches the quarterfinals.
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