The Matchday 1 encounter of the 2025/26 Champions League group stage between Newcastle and Barcelona will take place on September 18 at St James' Park. Newcastle vs. Barcelona: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Newcastle
Finishing fifth in the last Premier League season secured Newcastle a spot in the Champions League. This will be the second time in three seasons that the British side competes in this tournament. In the 2023/24 Champions League, the team managed only one win (2 draws, 3 losses) and finished last in Group F. Despite this, Newcastle conceded just seven goals, a tally bettered only by Borussia Dortmund, who topped the group. In the current English league, Eddie Howe's side is struggling, sitting in 10th place and just two points above the relegation zone.
- At least one goal has been scored in both halves in 4 of Newcastle's last 5 Champions League matches.
- In their last 6 Champions League games, the club has never scored more than once.
Predicted lineup for Newcastle (5-4-1)
Nick Pope – Fabian Schar, Valentino Livramento, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Sven Botman – Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, Harvey Barnes, Sandro Tonali – Nick Woltemade.
Midfielder Jacob Ramsey and forward Yoan Wissa are injured.
Barcelona
Having won the last La Liga season, Barcelona will participate in the Champions League group stage for the 22nd consecutive time. During this period, the team has claimed the title four times. In the 2025/26 Champions League, Hansi Flick's side finished second in the main stage, but no team could match Barcelona's scoring prowess (28 goals). In the playoffs, the club reached the semifinals, where they were defeated by Inter. Notably, in the previous Champions League season, the Spaniards lost only twice in regular time (9 wins, 3 draws). Additionally, Barcelona, alongside Liverpool, is considered a top contender to win this Champions League according to bookmakers.
- At least 4 goals have been scored in Barcelona's last five Champions League games.
- The team has scored in 10 consecutive away matches in this tournament.
- Barcelona has conceded at least two goals in 7 of their last 8 away Champions League matches.
Predicted lineup for Barcelona (3-4-3)
Joan Garcia – Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo – Gerard Martin, Pedri, Fermin Lopez, Frenkie de Jong – Marcus Rashford, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha Dias.
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, defender Alex Balde, forward Lamine Yamal, and midfielder Gavi are injured.
Referee
Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)
Matches – 16 (International matches, 2024/25–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 55;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.4;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 23;
Penalties – 19%.
Newcastle vs. Barcelona: Match Prediction
Last season, Newcastle returned to the Champions League after a decade-long absence from European competitions. Without experience in international fixtures, they struggled significantly. It's uncertain if things will get easier now, especially as Eddie Howe's side enters this match in poor form. Their recent Premier League win was their first, even considering preseason friendlies.
It's unlikely that Barcelona will fail to secure points. The Catalans would be favorites against Newcastle even if the English side were in better form. Throughout the last Champions League campaign, Barcelona suffered only two defeats, and away from home, they remained unbeaten in 5 of their last 6 matches in this tournament (4 wins, 1 draw).
Barcelona compensates for defensive issues with their attacking prowess. They score against everyone, regardless of the opponent's status. In the last Champions League, the Spaniards found the net in every match, scoring at least twice in 11 games.
My prediction: Barcelona will not lose and Total Over 1.5
