Newcastle's 2025-26 Champions League campaign kicks off with a bang as they take on Barcelona in their opening game of the group phase.
- Date: 18/09/2025
- Kick-off: 8:00pm
- Location: St. James' Park, Newcastle
Newcastle come into this game on the back of a solid start to the season. In tough conditions, the Magpies have one win, two draws and one loss from four games. Barcelona, meanwhile, have started strongly, winning three and drawing one of their four games in La Liga.
Barcelona's games tend to involve a lot of goals, with their first four games of the season averaging four goals per game, while their last five Champions League games have averaged five goals per game, so expect something of a barnstormer here. Brazil international Raphinha has started the season well in front of goal, scoring three goals in four games.
The visitors will be without Lamine Yamal, which is a huge blow to their chances, while Newcastle will welcome back Anthony Gordon after he's missed two games through suspension in the Premier League. The Magpies have won seven of their last nine games at St. James' Park and are a very, very tough outfit to topple at home. Barcelona have immense quality but have lost both of their last two Champions League games away from home, and the absence of Yamal will no doubt hurt their chances. All in all, we think the Magpies have enough to get a point here, in a game that is unlikely to be short on goals.
The situation with Alexander Isak tied an anchor to Newcastle in the opening weeks of the campaign, and now that's resolved, they'll hope to finally kick on. Performances have been largely good, and new signing Nick Woltemade got his Newcastle career off to a good start with a goal against Wolves at the weekend.
Eddie Howe will no doubt look to exploit Barcelona's high defensive line with the pace of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga, and he'll feel as though his team match up well with the Spanish Champions.
Barcelona made some decent signings over the summer, bringing in goalkeeper Joan Garcia, and forwards Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji. Rashford claimed his first goal contribution in a Barcelona shirt at the weekend, providing an assist for Raphinha in a 6-0 win over Valencia.
Barcelona had mixed fortunes away from home in the Champions League last season, winning four and losing three of their seven away fixtures. A trip to Newcastle without the services of Yamal is a very testing contest for Barcelona, and with a likely raucous crowd at St. James', a draw would be a decent result.
Newcastle 2-2 Barcelona
