Eddie Howe had described this as the biggest match in the club's recent history and they almost pulled off one of their best ever results. Now progress to the quarter-finals rests on next week's second leg, and therefore perhaps that game in Spain warrants similar billing.
"We have to believe we're very much in the tie," said Howe after the game. "The performance was very good - I thought we played well against them the first time (in September) and the defeat was harsh on us, and I think the draw was harsh on us again. But it shows their quality. If you switch off for a second, they will punish you."
To the strains of Thunderstruck by AC/DC, a spectacular firework display lit up the night sky above St. James' Park before kick-off - and it was a lightning start from the Magpies, who forced Barcelona back in the opening exchanges.
It took until the 16th minute for that early pressure to lead to a clear opportunity, which came when Jacob Ramsey - back in the side after serving a one-match ban at the weekend - prodded the ball through to Anthony Elanga. His shot was saved by Joan García and the flag went up against the Newcastle winger, but replays suggested he was onside.
Yamal saw an effort from a tight angle pushed onto the side netting by Aaron Ramsdale but United continued to look threatening and after a nicely worked move on the right, Elanga sent over a deep cross which William Osula headed over the bar.
In the 33rd minute, Elanga popped up again as he cut inside and let fly with a low drive which was gathered by García.
Fermín López cracked in a shot, which Ramsdale fielded, after Kieran Trippier lost his footing inside his own half, but moments later Elanga beat his man on the right and flashed a low centre across goal.
The second half took some time to truly warm up until Barnes almost set the game alight as he jinked inside and shot, but goalkeeper García was equal to it.
Robert Lewandowski had for the most part been kept quiet by Dan Burn, but came within a whisker of giving Barça the lead when Raphinha's wonderful touch was followed by a dangerous low ball from the left, but the veteran striker prodded wide at full stretch.
Howe immediately made a triple substitution, introducing Anthony Gordon, Tino Livramento and Jacob Murphy in place of Osula, Trippier and Elanga, and Murphy quickly had an opportunity, meeting Lewis Hall's deep cross at the far post but firing over.
Illness meant Gordon, the Champions League's second-top scorer so far this term, was only fit enough to begin on the bench - and many United fans must have felt sick after their celebrations were cut short when they thought Joelinton had put their side in front. Gordon broke on the right and squared to Murphy, who played in Barnes. His shot bounced back off the far post with García beaten, but Joelinton forced home the rebound; alas, the Brazilian was offside.
Ramsey saw a strike deflected over in the 80th minute before, with less than five minutes left of normal time, Murphy got to the byline and sent over an inviting cross which Barnes side-footed home for his sixth strike of this season's competition. The stadium erupted and it looked like the Magpies would take a slight lead to the Camp Nou.
But deep into stoppage time, substitute Dani Olmo tumbled under Malick Thiaw's tackle and Yamal sent Ramsdale the wrong way with the last kick of the game. Despite that body blow, however, next week's second leg is very much alive.
"In the cold light of day, when we wake up tomorrow, I think we'll see all the positives rather than the negatives," added Howe. "We played really well and showed our qualities. We've been really competitive. The challenge for us is we need more of it on a consistent basis, that's easier said than done, but we've shown that we can play against the very best when we're at our best."
Newcastle United: Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Trippier (c) (Tino Livramento 67), Lewis Hall, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes (Joe Willock 90), Malick Thiaw, William Osula (Anthony Gordon 67), Anthony Elanga (Jacob Murphy 67), Dan Burn, Jacob Ramsey
Subs not used: Nick Pope, John Ruddy, Aidan Harris, Sven Botman, Yoane Wissa, Nick Woltemade, Alex Murphy, Sean Neave
