Newcastle United are heading into the second leg of the Champions League playoffs in mixed spirit. They've lost three of their last four matches, but they've consistently scored goals – scoring at least twice in five consecutive matches. Newcastle are traditionally dangerous at home: four of their last five games at St. James' Park have seen at least three goals, and the hosts have scored in each of them.
Barcelona are in excellent form: four wins in their last five matches, with a combined score of 12-3. The Catalans crushed Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey (3-0) and convincingly beat Villarreal (4-1). However, Barça aren't always reliable away from home, as their recent cup matches have demonstrated, but they still score more goals.
The first leg ended with a 2-1 victory for Barcelona, and the signs are that the teams will trade goals again. Newcastle needs to fight back, so they'll push forward, while Barça will be looking to catch their opponents on the counterattack.
