Newcastle v Barcelona: Match Preview, Team News, Prediction
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Newcastle face Barcelona for the second time this season in the round of 16 stage of the Champions League. The Catalans won the first game in the group stage at SJP 2-1.
Match Review
Let's get straight down to business; Newcastle almost certainly need to take at least a two goal lead into the away tie to have a realistic chance of going into the next round.
At first that might seem a tall order, but this Barcelona team are vulnerable defensively.
They play a high line that makes them a threat on the offensive, but the downside is they are open to quick breaks and have conceded more than their fair share of goals.
That was highlighted in the group stage as their eight games saw the joint-highest number of overall goals with 36 - level with Borussia Dortmund - with 22 scored at the correct end and 14 shipped.
However, ominously for the Toon, Hansi Flick has tightened up Barcelona's defence and their 1-0 La Liga win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday saw the club keep their eighth clean sheet across all competitions in 2026.
Saturday's goal was scored by boy wonder Lamine Yamal who will test Lewis Hall's qualities to the limits.
Newcastle go into the game on the back of a three game run of highs and lows.
A gripping 2-1 win with ten men against Manchester United sandwiched in between home defeats by Everton in the PL and Man City in the FA Cup.
The fact that Eddie's team have saved their best form for the CL, where games are more open than the constant low blocks faced in the PL, gives us encouragement.
St James' Park will be a cauldron of noise tonight with a sell out crowd hoping to fire Eddie and the Lads to another momentous home victory over the Catalan giants.
Newcastle have done fantastically well to emerge from the toughest group of the CL to make a historic first appearance in the last 16.
Can Newcastle add to that history by defeating Barcelona over two legs?
The Geordie nation awaits; the drama starts at 8pm tonight.
Team News
Newcastle: In his presser Eddie reported no new injuries from the Man City game.
Tino Livramento will be in the squad again but Eddie said his game time needs to be managed after his injury.
Jacob Ramsey is available after his one match suspension.
Barcelona: Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen will miss the game.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Ramsey, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Gordon, Barnes
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
J. Garcia; E. Garcia, Cubarsi, Martin, Cancelo; Pedri, Casado; Yamal, Lopez, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Match Prediction
To have any chance of a positive result Newcastle need to stop the sensational Lamine Yamal who is on fire this season.
The 19yr old has a sensational 34 goal involvements from 36 games in 2025-26 - 19 of his own and 15 assists - and is set to become the youngest player to reach 30 appearances in the Champions League proper.
He will likely line up against Lewis Hall in what could be the defining battle of the night.
Having said that, Barcelona exude danger in all areas of the pitch and they are up against a Newcastle team that just cannot keep a clean sheet.
Technically Barcelona are at the same level as Manchester City and, just as City did on Saturday, they will look to dominate possession and carve out chances.
Conceding possession soon after regaining it is a weakness of Newcastle's play and a repeat of that tonight will make an uphill battle into scaling Mount Everest.
Only the bravest or the most deluded genuinely believes we can win this tie over the two legs. But, our erratic form in a strange way gives us hope.
At SJP, roared on by 50,000 hollering Geordies, the team could just rise to the occasion and turn in the performance of the season.
So, more in hope than in confidence, my usual fiver is going on 3-1 to the Toon.
My excitement for the match is already boiling over, and I am sure yours is too.
HWTL.
Last Post: Eddie's Bingo
Pre-Match Posts: For previous match previews, tactical analysis, predicted XIs, team news and match predictions, visit our Newcastle United Match Previews & Tactical Analysis | nufc blog hub