Barca’s victory lifted them above AC Milan’s record of 10 set back in 1992/93 and need to beat Inter next week to overhaul Ajax’s all-time European competition record of 11 set in the Cup Winners Cup campaigns of 1986/87 and 87/88.
It was a red letter night for one of their former manager’s Bobby Robson as he celebrated his 70th birthday with a 3-1 victory away at last season’s demoralised finalists Bayer Leverkusen in the other Group A clash.
Barcelona lead the group by three points from Inter — whose Uruguayan international striker Alvaro Recoba will be missing the return fixture after being sent off — while Newcastle have three and Bayer none.
Like Leverkusen Roma have no points after three matches and with Valencia joining Arsenal and Ajax — who drew 1-1 in London — on five points in Group B, Capello’s learning of German may come in handy sooner than he thought.
Collated second group phase results:
Group A
In Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona 3 Inter Milan 0
In Leverkusen, Germany
Bayer Leverkusen 1 Newcastle 3
Group B
In London
Arsenal 1 Ajax 1
In Rome
AS Roma 0 Valencia 1
—AFP