Newcastle vs Barcelona Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | Round of 16
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A game straight from the late-90's and early noughties as the Bobby Robson derby takes place once again with Newcastle United facing Barcelona this midweek.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime & discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Newcastle preview: Inconsistent but up for the big occasion
Newcastle United come into this one on the back of being punished by an Omar Marmoush brace at St James' Park, losing by three goals to one in the fifth round of the FA Cup against Manchester City.
The Magpies have put in some of their own very good performances this season but they have undermined that with high levels of incompetence on occasion - but they know how to get themselves up for the big occasion.
Barcelona preview: Impressive Barca
Barcelona cannot win the treble this season after the Blaugrana fought in vein to recover from a 4-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first-leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, winning the second-leg by three goals to nil at Camp Nou last week.
The Catalans remained firmly at the top-of-the-table in La Liga at the weekend, though, with Lamine Yamal scoring a fine goal in a 1-0 defeat of Athletic Club at San Mames in the Basque Country.
Newcastle team news: Livramento racing to be back
England international full-back Tino Livramento is racing to get back to full fitness, while Sandro Tonali played at the weekend against City, having previously been a doubt due to injury.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Joelinton, Tonali, Willock; Barnes, Woltemade, Gordon
Unavailable: Schar (Injured), Krafth (Injured), Guimaraes (Injured), Miley (Injured)
Questionable: Livramento (Injured)
Barcelona team news: Full-back injuries
Barcelona have issues at full-back, which may be a concern for them with the pace of Newcastle’s attack, with Jules Kounde now sidelined alongside left-back Alex Balde.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): J. Garcia; E. Garcia, Cubarsi, Araujo, Martin; Pedri, Bernal; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Unavailable: Christensen (Injured), Kounde (Injured), Balde (Injured), De Jong (Injured), Gavi (Injured)
Questionable:
Newcastle vs Barcelona prediction
Lamine Yamal is in fine form. The 18-year-old has been a phenomenon for a couple of years now but may well be finding his best yet in terms of efficiency on the final third. Barca have options, though, if he was to underwhelm, as was the case when Marcus Rashford scored a match-winning brace against Newcastle in the league phase fixture between these two sides. Newcastle may well be able to expose the extraordinarily high-line of the Spaniards but Barcelona remain firm favourites for both legs of this round of 16 tie.
Newcastle vs Barcelona Tip: Barcelona to win & over 2.5 goals
