The moral of this week's Champions League story is that it only takes a moment to change a player's confidence levels. That moment when it finally clicks must feel like such a weight being taken off your shoulders, and then, suddenly, you have the freedom and confidence to express yourself. Just watch Marcus Rashford over the next few weeks after his two sensational goals at James' Park - a fire has been ignited, and that spells danger.
Star player - Marcus Rashford
It had been an encouraging but far from spectacular start to life in Barcelona for Marcus Rashford. One assist in his first four appearances for the club is nothing to write home about, but also not that surprising when you consider the natural settling-in period for a player moving abroad. Let's not forget that before his loan move to Aston Villa last season, all Rashford had known was Manchester United. So patience was going to be needed.
His first Champions League appearance for the Catalan side at a deafening St James' Park last night was heading towards being an underwhelming one, too. However, a world-class header from a Jules Kounde cross changed the narrative in an instant as Rashford found the bottom corner to stun the home side.
Newcastle had been shocked by a goal which seemingly came from nowhere, but there was still hope of a comeback. That evaporated when Rashford sensationally delivered a knockout blow. The fire inside the England international had been ignited, and all of a sudden, Newcastle were dealing with a different beast.
It all happened so fast.
One moment, Rashford was running at the defence with nothing obvious on and the next moment, he was celebrating after finding the top corner with an absolute rocket of a strike, which curled and swerved in a way that defied logic. It was a suckerpunch for Newcastle, who had created their fair share of chances and been the more threatening side. That is what a confident Rashford is capable of, though, and expect that to be just the start.
A fully firing Rashford off the left and Lamine Yamal on the right with Raphinha in the number 10 role has explosive potential in a Barcelona side ready to thrill Europe once again in 2025/26.
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Surprise package - Royale Union SG
I don't think there was anyone last season who deserved this award more than Royale Union do after a dream Champions League debut in Eindhoven on Tuesday night.
It was widely expected that PSV would have a routine win to start their campaign after a good run to the last 16 last season, so there would have been a lot of people thinking their eyes were deceiving them when Royale Union stunned the home side 3-1 with a statement display on the road.
The first murmurings of a historic night for the club came just nine minutes in when Promise David coolly slotted away a penalty for their first-ever Champions League goal.
That moment would be trumped in the 39th minute when Anouar Ait El Hadj went on a mazy run before brilliantly finding the bottom left-hand corner. A stunning solo goal and a moment the Belgian midfielder will never forget.
Despite PSV dominating possession, the visitors were a constant threat on the counter, and they could have been further ahead, too. They finally added a deserved third goal in the 81st minute to completely silence the home supporters and guarantee a fairytale three points.
If Royale Union had been dominated for 90 minutes and nicked a goal on the counter for a classic smash-and-grab victory, it would still be a massive shock. However, winning 3-1 (PSV would score a late consolation) with 18 shots and an XG of 3.34 is barely believable. Seriously impressive.
Team of the week - PSG
The champions returned in style on Wednesday as they made a strong Atalanta side look distinctly average in a 4-0 thrashing. After a minor setback in the Club World Cup final, Luis Enrique's men reminded Europe why they are the team to beat with a classy display and comfortable opening week victory despite missing star players Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue.
Before the game, there was some concern that PSG might not be ready for the start of the Champions League due to both their injury crisis and lack of a pre-season. That was not to be, however, and in the absence of Dembele and Doue, it was the equally brilliant Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who took centre stage.
The elegant winger was a menace throughout, and his solo goal to put PSG 2-0 up on the night was a thing of beauty. After showing great acceleration and balance to find himself on the edge of the area, Kvaratskhelia unleashed a rocket into the top right-hand corner from the edge of the box. A fantastic goal from a player quickly emerging as one of the world's best, and just like that, the home side were out of sight.
It was a story which felt reminiscent of last season in Europe and consistent with what a Luis Enrique side is all about. Four different goal scorers: centre-back Marquinos, full-back Nuno Mendes, winger Kvaratskhelia and striker Goncalo Ramos. This is a team that, similar to Guardiola's sides, plays as a collective, where no individual is above anyone else and everyone works as hard as each other to attack and defend.
Put simply, this is an incredibly well-oiled machine, and whilst Barcelona will hand the holders their first big test in their title defence in the next gameweek, don't be surprised if they pass it with flying colours like they have done time and again over the last 12 months.
Moment of the week - Simeone loses his head (again)
We heard all about a new, mellowed-out Diego Simeone. After well over a decade of controversy on the Atletico Madrid bench, he had begun to appear a calmer and more composed figure at last. The passionate Argentine would often let his emotions get the better of him and regularly got himself sent off after very public disagreements with officials. Word was that those days were over.
That was until they very much weren't.
After a late Diego Llorente-inspired comeback at Anfield, Atletico Madrid were closing in on snatching a very useful point despite looking down and out at half-time. They would have their hearts broken, however, as Virgil van Dijk rose tallest to score a dramatic late header to win the game for Liverpool. And as Anfield erupted, so did Simeone.
The Atletico Madrid coach took offence with a section of the Liverpool supporters and jumped into the crowd to confront them in a wild act very befitting of Simeone. Unsurprisingly, he would be sent off to end a great game on a sour note.
Simeone changing? Don't ever believe it again; after all, a tiger never changes its stripes.