Sven Botman was on the bench for Newcastle. Nick Woltemade, who joined from VfB Stuttgart this summer for €75 million, was also on the bench. Frenkie de Jong returned to the starting lineup at Barcelona. The playmaker missed the home game against Valencia and the Dutch international match against Lithuania due to a muscle injury. Rashford also started. Lamine Yamal was absent due to a back injury.

The atmosphere was electric at St. James' Park, with Newcastle regularly pushing forward. The Magpies had the first real chance of the match, finding Anthony Elanga on the right flank. After about five minutes, the Swede delivered a low cross to temporary striker Anthony Gordon, but Gordon completely missed the target.

Barcelona's first chance came just under ten minutes later. Rashford cut in from the left wing and then shot wide of Nick Pope's goal. The Catalans needed to survive the opening stages, where the home side applied high pressure and the crowd roared. Barça succeeded, looking increasingly threatening after twenty minutes.

Yet, Hansi Flick's side nearly conceded a goal after about 25 minutes. The lightning-quick Elanga was sent deep by Bruno Guimarães and then covered dozens of meters. The right-footed player then delivered a hard, low cross to Harvey Barnes, but the Englishman found Joan García. The ball should have gone in, and Barnes knew it. Barcelona created chances for the remainder of the first half through Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, but failed to convert.

Joelinton was responsible for the first act of the second half. The Brazilian was the final stop of an Elanga corner, but saw his effort deflect a meter wide. Rashford scored the opening goal in the 58th minute. Jules Koundé provided the Englishman with a precise cross, and the latter headed past Pope: 0-1. It was his first goal for Barcelona.

Rashford scored again ten minutes later, and it was a goal of unparalleled beauty. The right-footed player received a shot from Dan Burn, who was trying to clear the defence. Rashford then dribbled past Sandro Tonali and unleashed a devastating shot. His shot deflected off the underside of the crossbar and into the net: 0-2. Botman came on for Kieran Trippier fifteen minutes from time. Gordon tried to pull one back for Newcastle in the ninetieth minute, but an equalizer was out of reach.