Na Champions League football go jam fire for St James’ Park on Thursday night as Newcastle United welcome Barcelona for their opening League Phase game of the 2025-26 season. The two sides never meet since 2003 when Patrick Kluivert and Thiago Motta secure 2-0 win for the Catalan giants.
Match Preview
Since Alexander Isak waka comot on deadline day, all eye dey on Newcastle new record signing Nick Woltemade.
The tall German striker no dull on him Premier League debut as he nod home better header to give Newcastle 1-0 win over Wolves for weekend. The win end Magpies three-game winless run and ginger dem confidence as Champions League dey start.
Eddie Howe side don dey prepare for dem fourth Champions League campaign, but dem last outing no sweet as PSG, Dortmund and Milan knack dem comot for group stage. Now dem go face another hot group wey get Barcelona, Benfica, Marseille, Leverkusen and PSG again.
Newcastle form for Europe no too sweet (1 win in 8 games), but St James’ Park dey always give dem ginger: only three defeats for last 31 European home matches. Against Spanish teams, dem don win 4 out of 6 for home turf.
Barcelona on the other hand dey ride high under new coach Hansi Flick. Dem win La Liga last season and don start this one well with 10 points from 4 games.
Last weekend na total demolition as dem hammer Valencia 6-0 — Lewandowski, Raphinha and Fermin Lopez all score brace. With this kain fire, Barca dey look to finally break their 11-year Champions League drought after Inter Milan dump dem for last season semi-final with 7-6 aggregate.
Dem record for UCL dey scary: 28 goals last season League Phase (na competition high), second position with 19 points, and only 2 defeats in their last 17 games against English opposition. But dem still lose opener last year to Monaco 2-1, so Newcastle go believe say upset dey possible.
Form Guide
- Newcastle (all competitions): D L D W
- Barcelona (all competitions): W W D W
Team News
Newcastle no go get Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey (injuries still hold dem). Anthony Gordon dey suspended for league but fit play UCL, so he likely go start left wing.
Anthony Elanga and Jacob Murphy dey battle for right flank. Defence-wise, Howe fit stick with Fabian Schar and Dan Burn, or bring in Botman or Malick Thiaw. Lewis Hall dey also push Livramento for left-back start.
Barcelona headache plenty for injury list: Lamine Yamal (groin), Ter Stegen (back), Gavi (knee), Balde (hamstring) all dey out.
But Frenkie de Jong dey back for squad and fit play small. After dem double last weekend, Lewandowski and Raphinha go return start. Marcus Rashford wey dey on loan from Man United also dey available. Midfield fit see Marc Casado pair Pedri if De Jong no dey ready to start.
Newcastle Possible XI:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon
Barcelona Possible XI:
J. Garcia; Kounde, E. Garcia, Cubarsi, Martin; Casado, Pedri; Raphinha, Fermin, Rashford; Lewandowski
Prediction
Newcastle dey solid for Premier League backline with three clean sheets already, but stop Barcelona attack wey dey pepper defenders go hard. Barca don score 3+ goals for 10 of their last 13 UCL games — Lewandowski and Raphinha form no be child’s play. Magpies fit still worry Barca with Woltemade height and Gordon pace, but overall the Catalans get enough quality to edge am.
We Say: Newcastle United 2-3 Barcelona
