UEFA rules can ban £53m Newcastle United duo v Barcelona – on one condition

Newcastle United team news: Two players are walking a disciplinary tightrope for Newcastle in the Champions League.
Newcastle United are back in Champions League action on Tuesday evening as they host Barcelona in the last-16 first leg at st James’ Park.

The Magpies lost 2-1 to Barcelona in their opening Champions League match back in September but welcome the La Liga side back to Tyneside having enjoyed a strong European campaign – winning all five of their matches at St James’ Park in the competition since.

And they will be hoping for another good result to take into the second leg at Camp Nou next Wednesday (5:45pm kick-off).

Newcastle United team news
Tino Livramento is back available following two months out injured. Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis Miley, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth are unavailable due to injury.

“I think we came through the Manchester City game okay,” Eddie Howe said. “Relatively okay, I think. No fresh injuries. Got a little bit of illness again in the camp, so it’s been hanging around in recent days.

“We’ll have a player go down, but they’re recovering quite quickly, so I anticipate we won’t lose anybody. We’ll be as we were with Tino Livermento back in the squad.”

Newcastle will be boosted by the return of Jacob Ramsey after his suspension against Manchester City. Malick Thiaw also served his Champions League suspension last time out in the competition against Qarabag.

But two players remain at risk of a ban.

NUFC duo at risk of Champions League ban
Joelinton and Dan Burn have been shown two yellow cards this season in the Champions League and need to avoid another booking on Tuesday night if they want to feature in the second leg at Camp Nou.

Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Aaron Ramsdale, Joe Willock, Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon, meanwhile, are the only other Magpies players who have been shown a yellow card in the Champions League this season.

Those players would have to be booked a further two times in order to face a ban, though that would only be relevant if Newcastle were to progress. Yellow cards are wiped after the quarter-final stage to ensure players cannot miss the final because of an accumulation of bookings.