Postponed Newcastle game goes ahead tonight

BARCELONA’S Champions League game at home to Newcastle United last night was called off due to a waterlogged pitch and rescheduled for tonight.

“According to Champions League regulations the match should be played the following day,” the UEFA match delegate said at a news conference at the Nou Camp.

“Both coaches have agreed to that and the match will be played tomorrow at the same time, weather permitting.”

The decision to call off last night’s game was taken after Belgian referee Frank de Bleeckere took a final look at the pitch with roughly 90 minutes to go before the scheduled 19:45 GMT kickoff.

“The referee decided to take another look at the pitch and see if the ball could still move properly over the surface,” a Barcelona spokesman explained.

“That wasn’t possible and it was decided to postpone it. The rain here is really coming down.”

Barcelona had been looking to divert attention from their poor domestic form, and ease the pressure on coach Louis van Gaal, by claiming a 10th successive European victory and equalling the record held by AC Milan.

There were an estimated 4,000 Newcastle United fans in Barcelona for the game. Around a dozen of them mounted a good-natured pitch invasion after the decision was announced, making their way down to take photographs near one of the goals but moving on politely when asked to by security guards.