oi-Soumyaroop Mukherjee

Newcastle United F.C. host FC Barcelona at St. James’ Park on Tuesday in the first leg of their 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash. The Magpies are enjoying a memorable European campaign as they prepare for their first-ever appearance in the knockout stages of the competition.

Barcelona, meanwhile, travel to England with confidence after maintaining their four-point lead at the top of La Liga with a hard-fought win over Athletic Club. The Catalan giants will now aim to build momentum in Europe and push beyond last season’s semi-final finish.

Newcastle vs Barcelona Team News and Injury Updates

Newcastle

For Eddie Howe, the absence of Bruno Guimaraes will be a big point of concern ahead of the Round of 16 clash. The Brazilian midfielder last featured for the Magpies in a 2-1 win over the Spurs. Besides, Guimaraes, Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth, and Lewis Miley are also set to remain unavailable for the match.

However, everything is not gloomy for Eddie Howe, and there is encouraging news for him also. The biggest positive will be the return of Sandro Tonali and their number 9, Nick Woltemade, after their recent injury concerns.

Jacob Ramsey is also back in contention following the completion of his domestic suspension, giving the midfield additional depth. In attack, Anthony Gordon, Newcastle’s top scorer in the Champions League this season, is expected to make his return to the starting XI.

Barcelona

For the Blaugrana, the absence of Frenkie de Jong will be a significant setback for Barcelona. This has placed added responsibility on young Marc Bernal, who is expected to partner with Pedri in midfield. The youngster will face a stern challenge as he looks to control the tempo of the game against a strong Newcastle side.

Ronald Araujo, Gerard Martín, and Robert Lewandowski are all likely to feature in the starting lineup, providing physical presence and aerial strength to counter Newcastle’s threat from set pieces and crosses. However, the onus for Barca’s win will once again rely on the talented wingers of Barca Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.

The teenage sensation has been in outstanding form throughout 2026, while the Brazilian will aim to rediscover the brilliance he displayed during last season’s Champions League knockout rounds, where he was one of the competition’s standout performers.

Newcastle vs Barcelona Predicted Lineups

Newcastle

Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall, Jacob Ramsey, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton Cássio Apolinário de Lira, Anthony Elanga, Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes

Barcelona

Joan García, Eric García, Pau Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, João Cancelo, Marc Bernal, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski
Newcastle vs Barcelona Head-to-Head Record And Last Meeting

• Total Matches: 5
• Newcastle Wins: 1
• Draws: 0
• Barcelona Wins: 4
• Last Meeting: The two sides met during the group stage of the Champions League, where Barca managed to edge past Newcastle 2-1 courtesy of a brilliant brace from Marcus Rashford.

Newcastle vs Barcelona Recent Form

Newcastle

Newcastle head into the clash with mixed results in recent weeks. Eddie Howe’s side were recently knocked out of the FA Cup after a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City FC, a result that continued their inconsistent run of form this season.

The Magpies have struggled for consistency in domestic competitions and currently sit in the mid-table positions in the Premier League, making their Champions League campaign an important opportunity to salvage the season.

Barcelona

The Blaugrana are currently on a good run of form and are 4 points ahead of Real Madrid in the La Liga table. To add a cherry on top, Hansi Flick’s side recently secured a 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao thanks to a goal from Lamine Yamal, extending their lead at the top of La Liga.

Newcastle vs Barclona Match Prediction

The match will be evenly poised, as seen in the last fixture, which Barca won by 2-1. However, with the absence of Jules Kounde and Balde, it will be difficult for Barca to operate on the channels on either side of the pitch.

For the Magpies, the biggest positive will be the game against United, where they defeated the Red Devils 2-1 at St James Park, with Joelington, Ramsay, and Tonali playing in the midfield, who will also play against Barcelona.

Newcastle vs Barcelona Final Score Prediction: 1-2

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