2025-26 UEFA Champions League: League Phase – Newcastle vs Barcelona

Newcastle kick off their UEFA Champions League campaign in a league phase clash against Barcelona. 

Newcastle qualified for this stage of the competition after the Premier League were awarded a bonus spot for the fifth-placed club, whilst Barcelona claimed the La Liga title.

 

Team News

Newcastle have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 1-0 Premier League victory over Wolves.

Jacob Ramsey (ankle) and Yoane Wissa (knee) are ruled out but Anthony Gordon is available, due to his suspension only applying to domestic matches.

Barcelona could be without Lamine Yamal after he missed their 6-0 La Liga win over Valencia with a groin injury.

Frenkie de Jong (groin) is a doubt but Alejandro Balde (hamstring), Gavi (knee) and Marc-Andre ter Stegen (back) are sidelined.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Newcastle host Barcelona at St James’ Park on Thursday 18 September at 8pm BST, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Newcastle have won just one of four previous competitive meetings against Barcelona (W1, L3).
• Barcelona have won one of their two previous Champions League visits to Newcastle (W1, L1).
• Newcastle have conceded twice in each of their two previous Champions League home games against Barcelona.
• Eddie Howe’s Magpies have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight Champions League home games (W3, L5), since a 1-0 win over Juventus in October 2002.
• Barcelona have conceded seven goals and scored four goals in their last two Champions League away games (L2).

 

Prediction

Having finally got a first win of the season under their belt in a clinical display against Wolves where they were dominant aside from a lack of an accurate final touch on many chances, Newcastle must now be as defensively resilient as they were in that game but with a more polished end product.

Barcelona meanwhile come into this game as favourites but will of seen PSG struggle with the caldron that St James’ Park can be at its loudest two years ago, so they just really need to believe in themselves and not let the home crowd affect them psychologically.

As fun as it would be seeing Newcastle pull off a huge upset, I just don’t see that happening unless they score first and sit deep thereafter, but Barcelona realistically will be too strong in the end.

Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Barcelona