St. James’ Park is set to host a memorable night as Barcelona visits Tyneside for Newcastle United’s opening match in the Champions League this season. The two teams will face off for the first time since March 2003, when goals from Patrick Kluivert and Thiago Motta secured a 2-0 away victory for the Catalan giants in the group stage.
The Magpies will, however, remember their clash in 1997 as Faustino Asprilla’s hat-trick inspired a 3–2 victory over a Barcelona side containing the likes of Luis Figo, Rivaldo and Luis Enrique.
Match Details
- Fixture: Newcastle United vs. Barcelona
- Date: 18 September 2025 / 19 September 2025 (India)
- Time: 08:00 PM BST / 9:00 PM CEST/ 12:30 AM IST
- Venue: St. James’ Park, Newcastle, England
- Competition: UEFA Champions League
Where To Watch
- UK: TNT Sport
- India: Sony Ten, SonyLiv
- Australia: Stan Sport
- Canada: DAZN, Amazon Prime Video
- USA: Paramount+, TUDN
Match Preview
Newcastle United: The Magpies
Newcastle United have returned to the Champions League, and Eddie Howe will hope to lead his side into the latter stages of the tournament. Last time out, Newcastle were eliminated in the group stages after being drawn in a group of death against PSG, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.
Newcastle United Strengths
Newcastle United ended their three-match winless streak since the start of the season with a 1-0 victory over Wolves on Saturday. The new summer signing Nick Woltemade enjoyed a dream debut, scoring on his debut and earning Newcastle their first three points of the season.
His powerful header will raise the spirits at Newcastle following the sour exit of Alexander Isak on deadline day. Anthony Gordon is currently serving a domestic suspension, but he is available to play tonight.
- Key Players: Nick Woltemade (Attacker), Sandro Tonali (Midfielder), Anthony Elanga (Attacker)
- New Signings: Yoane Wissa, Nick Woltemade, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, Aaron Ramsdale, Anthony Elange
- Players Out: Jacob Ramsey, Yoane Wissa
Barcelona: The Catalan Giants
Hansi Flick’s men were on the cusp of reaching the finals last year but were knocked out in a thrilling 6-7 aggregate defeat against Inter Milan. Barcelona, however, are without their teenage superstar Lamine Yamal, who is out with a groin injury.
They have, however, enjoyed a strong start in LaLiga, winning three of their opening four matches, and are just coming off a 6-0 thrashing of Valencia on Sunday.
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Barcelona Strengths
Barcelona boasts plenty of firepower in attack, with Raphinha, Rashford, and Lewandowski likely to lead the attack. Under Hansi Flick, they are a threat in transition and score goals for fun. Last season, they recorded the most goals in the Champions League with 43 goals, as well as the most in LaLiga with a whopping 102 goals. They also mastered the art of playing a high line, catching opposition attackers offside regularly.
- Key Players: Marcus Rashford (Attacker), Raphinha (Attacker), Pedri (Midfielder)
- New Signings: Marcus Rashford, Roony Bardghji, Joan Garcia
- Players Out: Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Predicted Lineup
- Newcastle United Predicted Lineup vs. Barcelona (4-3-3): Pope (GK); Trippier, Schar, Burns, Livramento; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon.
- Barcelona Predicted Lineup vs. Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Garcia (GK); Kounde, Eric Garcia, Cubarsi, Martin; Pedri, de Jong; Raphinha, Lopez, Rashford; Lewandowski.
Head-to-Head Stats
- Matches Played: 4
- Newcastle United Wins: 1
- Draws: 0
- Barcelona Wins: 3
Players to Watch Out For
Newcastle United
- Nick Woltemade: Newcastle United’s €80 million signing and the heir to Alexander Isak at Newcastle United. The German striker scored 17 goals for Stuttgart last season and has even become the main striker for the German national team. He opened his Newcastle scoring account with a powerful header, earning his side the three points in a 1-0 victory over Wolves.
- Sandro Tonali: Newcastle United have one of the best midfield setups in the Premier League with Tonali, Guimaraes, and Joelinton. They complement each other perfectly; however, Sandro Tonali is the standout among the trio. He’s been a focal point in Newcastle’s dominance. He covers every blade of grass and uses his intelligence to fizzle out opposition attacks with key interceptions.
- Anthony Elanga: The Swedish winger was a key player for Nottingham Forest last season in their pursuit of European qualification. Since leaving Manchester United, the Carrington graduate has been impressive in the Premier League. He earned a £52 million move to Newcastle, but has failed to register a goal for them yet. Barcelona should be wary of Elanga’s ability to hit them in transition and capitalise on their high line using his pace and athleticism.
Barcelona
- Marcus Rashford: Hansi Flick claims to be a huge admirer of Marcus Rashford since he made his debut for Manchester United in 2016. Marcus Rashford looks to find the best version of himself. He enjoyed his best performance in the Barcelona shirt in the side’s 6-0 demolition of Valencia on Sunday. He provided a brilliant assist for Raphinha for the second goal. With all eyes on him in the Champions League, Rashford will be hungry to impress and we can expect to see him back to his very best.
- Raphinha: The Brazilian winger was omitted from the starting XI on Sunday as punishment for arriving late to the training session. He came on in the second half and registered a brace by the 66th minute. He’s among the frontrunners to win the Ballon d’Or and finished as the top scorer in last season’s Champions League campaign, scoring 13 goals.
- Pedri: Words cannot do justice to the ability Barcelona’s young midfielder possesses. He’s been a pivotal figure under Hansi Flick and featured in 59 games for the club last season. He provides balance and solidity in midfield, and his defensive abilities make him one of the most complete midfielders in the world. On the ball, he is even more impressive and tops lists for progressive passes.
What To Expect?
Newcastle United have proven they are capable of an upset in the Champions League under Eddie Howe, crushing PSG 4-1 during the 2023/24 group stage. However, things haven’t gone exactly to plan for them this season.
Despite Yamal’s absence, Barcelona features plenty of attacking force and will be amongst the goals. The hosts will find it too difficult to keep up with Barcelona’s efficient build-up and quick attacks.
Prediction
The game will likely be a thrilling goal-fest, and Newcastle will also enjoy opportunities to feast on Barcelona’s high line. However, Hansi Flick’s side is still likely to prevail and may win 3-1.
Conclusion
The tie promises to be a fascinating clash of styles, ambition, and history. The Magpies will look to harness their energy and home advantage, while Barcelona’s experience and attacking quality make them favourites. Both teams will be eyeing up the three points to shape a strong start to their European campaigns, and fans can expect a match worthy of the Champions League spotlight.
Written by: Thillai Ritvik
