'We'll need' - Bruno Guimaraes makes impassioned Newcastle United plea after Barcelona loss

It was a tough night in the Champions League for Newcastle United. Not because they lost, particularly against one of the best sides on the planet, more because they didn’t really present the best version of themselves after a season out of the competition.

A quite brilliant Marcus Rashford double proved the difference on the night for Barcelona, as they silenced the St James’ noise with a controlled display. Anthony Gordon halved the deficit late on, but it proved too little too late on the evening.

Nothing was won and lost, particularly with the new Champions League format - Newcastle have seven more games to make up for their early defeat. But the disappointment was evident in skipper Bruno Guimaraes’ latest social media post.

The Brazilian, usually Newcastle’s hero on nights like this, was far from his individual best, too. And taking to Twitter, Guimaraes paid tribute to the Newcastle fans, as well as expressing his personal disappointment at the result.

Bruno Guimaraes on Barcelona

Bruno said: “Tough way to start with a loss, but so much ahead and we’ll need your support all the way. Howay the lads @worflags unbelievable display. We go again.”

NUFC 1 Barcelona 2 - Champions League report

A Marcus Rashford brace inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Newcastle United in their Champions League opener at St James’ Park.

Rashford handed Barcelona the lead in the 58th minute when he headed home Jules Kounde’s cross. The Manchester United loanee then doubled his and the visitors’ advantage nine minutes later with a stupendous strike from distance.

Anthony Gordon pulled one back just as seven minutes of stoppage time were shown on the board, but the Magpies were unable to find an equaliser.

It’s 28 years this week since a Tino Asprilla hat-trick handed Newcastle a famous 3-2 victory over Barcelona at St James’ Park.

Hoping to repeat that success, Eddie Howe named two changes to his starting XI from Saturday’s 1-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Jacob Murphy and Nick Woltemade combined for the goal versus Wolves but both dropped out, with Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon recalled.

Elanga and Gordon made their first starts since the 3-2 defeat to Liverpool, and the two combined for the first chance of the game but Gordon couldn’t connect with Elanga’s low cross.

Another Elanga delivery was then directed straight at Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

Barcelona weathered the storm and took control of possession, Just before the hour-mark, Rashford broke the deadlock and added a second not long after.

The Magpies set up a tense finish when Gordon scored in the 90th minute but Barcelona saw out the win.