Bobby Robson and his Newcastle players awoke in Barcelona this morning to blue skies and bright winter sunshine as they prepared for tonight's re-arranged Champions League game.
The United party which trudged dispiritedly off the rain-soaked playing surface at the Nou Camp last night found an altogether different scenario when they drew back the curtains today.
With weather forecasters predicting a dry day and temperatures closer to the 18c level of Monday rather than yesterday's 11c, hopes were high that Robson and opposite number Louis van Gaal would finally get their chance to go head to head at one of Europe's most imposing venues.
Match referee Frank de Bleekere called the match off at around 7.30pm last night after a second major rainstorm, but around two-and-a-half hours earlier he had passed the pitch fit following a massive improvement since his initial 10am inspection.
UEFA officials were confident that, with no further rain expected, the game should go ahead at 7.45pm Irish time.
Last night's postponement caused a major headache for both clubs and in particular, the Newcastle fans, many of whom had little choice but to return home and miss the game.
A proportion of the 4,200 who made the trip have been able to stay on after hastily re-arranging their travel plans, although the level of support inside the stadium this evening is expected to be greatly reduced.
The United players returned to their hotel close to Barcelona's picturesque seafront once the lengthy meetings had been completed and the relevant decisions made, and went through a brief session in the gym.
Robson was not planning a training session today in a bid to avoid any unnecessary injuries, although van Gaal - who sent his players home from their hotel last night to be with their families before meeting up again today - was hoping to do some work.
The United party, which was initially due to fly back to Tyneside this afternoon, will now return immediately after the game, with the players having a day off tomorrow before beginning their preparations for the Premiership trip to Southampton on Saturday, a difficult end to what has developed into a gruelling week.