That's what Juan came for: hot notes from Barça-Newcastle

BarcelonaGood start for Barça in the Champions League, with a win (1-2) on a difficult field like Saint James's Park.

Rashford sends his regards to Nico WilliamsHe didn't have a great first half, but the former Manchester United player showed why Hansi Flick wanted him for Barça. After a lackluster first 45 minutes, racing and unable to beat Trippier, the English striker, alone, took charge of breaking Newcastle down in the second half. First, with a powerful header from a great cross from Kounde, and then, when it was time for the English to finish, with a tremendous save that put Barça on the path to victory. Rashford is at Barça because Nico Williams turned down the Catalans. The Englishman sends his regards.

Thank you, Juan, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for putting up with all the criticism for leaving Espanyol and coming to Barça. While Rashford had a dream Champions League debut for Barça, returning to England for his first away experience in the country where he grew up, Joan was making his first appearance in the competition. It was to play games like these, at venues like Saint James's Park, that the goalkeeper from Sallent signed for Barça. Rashford will start, but Joan was decisive with a key save in the first half against Barnes and a very intelligent way of clearing the ball, both with his feet and his hands. He only conceded when Barça relaxed.

Pedri, the great forgotten of the Ballon d'Or debate. While the debate over who will be chosen as the best player on the planet ranges from Lamine Yamal to Ousmane Dembélé, Barça has a treasure who isn't in the running but deserves to be as much as the Barça number 10 and PSG's star, Pedro González López. The Canary Islands midfielder goes from exhibition to exhibition. Against Newcastle, where Flick's Barça looked more controlled and less reckless than usual, Pedri set the tone. In the end, with the score at 2-1, when it seemed like they would be struggling in the final minutes, the number 8 calmed his team's play.

Central headacheBarça's injuries continue to plague the club. Lamine Yamal, expected back for the Oviedo-Barça match on Thursday the 26th, Gavi, who will be assessed early in the week whether to continue conservative treatment on his knee or undergo surgery, and Balde, who is still out for a couple more weeks, now have more problems: Pau Cubarsí and Ronald Araujo had to request substitution against Newcastle. The headache, moreover, is focused on a particularly sensitive position following the departure of Iñigo Martínez.