Newcastle United and Barcelona will both be looking for positive start of their UEFA Champions League 2025-26 campaigns when the two parties meet in St. James Park on Thursday evening.
After a year, Newcastle United returns to the top club competition of Europe, after last participating in the 2023-24 season. It ended the bottom of a difficult group, including Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.
In the meantime, Barcelona will be looking for improving his semi -final of last season. It was beaten out of the competition after a dramatic draw against Inter Milan, which lost it in extra time with 6-7.
Both parties discuss the competition with injuries. Newcastle is Yoanne Wissa and Jacob Ramsay without summer signs, while Lamine Yamal is missing for Barcelona. Together with the young wing player, Gavi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Alejandro Bangde all miss for the Catalan side.
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What have the managers said?
Prior to the competition, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was clear about the importance of the competition. Newcastle defeated Barcelona the first time they met in 1997, thanks to an unforgettable Faustino Asprilla Hattrick, but has lost its last three encounters against the La Liga side, last games in 2003.
«It is a historic game. As soon as we realized that we were being attracted to Barcelona, it had a kind of magical feeling. I think it will be a great game to experience,» Howe told Repectors.
«It is clear that we have focused on tactical preparation and ensuring that we deliver a good performance. I am very enthusiastic to taste the atmosphere and I think that is just incredible again.»
In the meantime, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said that his match will look at Marcus Rashford to fill the gap created by the absence of Yamal.
«I really follow Marcus (Rashford) since he started with Manchester United. And I always said:» Wow! What a player he is! «,» Flick told reporters at Wednesday’s press conference in Newcastle.
“He has speed, but also, in one counter-one situations, it is really fantastic. And also finishing, it is incredible.
«What I saw of him here in the first few weeks, it’s very good. And I think he still has potential to show us more.»
Head-to-head record:
Newcastle United wins: 1
Barcelona wins: 3
Signs: 0
Predicted xis:
Newcastle United: Pope, Livramenton, Burn, Schar, Hall, Joelinton, Bruno G., Tonali, Elanga, Woltemade, Barnes
Barcelona: Joan Garcia, Kounde, Eric Garcia, Cubersi, Martin, Pedri, Casado, Raphinha, Ferin Lopez, Rashford, Lewandowski
(With Reuters entrances)
Published on September 18, 2025
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