One of the tournament favourites, Barcelona, begin their Champions League journey with a trip to St. James’ Park for their Matchday 1 appointment with Newcastle United.
Barcelona reached the semi-finals last season before a brilliant Inter Milan knocked them out in a Champions League classic.
Newcastle United, meanwhile, are returning to the Champions League after their disappointing showing in the 2023/24 season. The Magpies finished fourth in Group F and crashed out of Europe.
Barcelona are 6/1 with UK betting sites to win the Champions League. Newcastle United, on the other hand, sit at 33/1, suggesting their outside chance of winning the competition.
Wobbly Newcastle Face Barcelona Challenge
Newcastle United had a rough summer. Not only did they lose their star striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool, but they also failed to land their preferred replacement, Hugo Ekitike. Despite the competition for places, Ekitike also switched over to Anfield, leaving Newcastle with limited options.
Eddie Howe’s side added Nick Woltemade, Anthony Elanga, and Yoane Wissa to their ranks, but the new-look attack has not yet had the time to gel.
Newcastle United have only amassed five points from four Premier League matches (W 1, D 2, L 1) and sit in 10th place in the rankings. Their only victory came last weekend against Wolverhampton Wanderers (1-0), with Woltemade scoring on his full debut.
The perfect start for Nick Woltemade! 📸 pic.twitter.com/xKvWqRoG68
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) September 13, 2025
While Newcastle United are still finding their feet, Barcelona have picked up pretty much where they left off last season. The Spanish champions are unbeaten in four LaLiga games, claiming three wins (D 1).
They have scored 13 goals and conceded only three, registering the highest goal-difference in the Spanish top flight. The majority of their goals came in the last match, as they thrashed Valencia 6-0 at Estadi Johan Cruyff.
On the back of such commanding performance, Barcelona will fancy themselves getting maximum points in their Champions League opener. Newcastle may have to produce their best performance of the season to keep them from doing so.
Newcastle United vs Barcelona Match Details
⚽Teams: Newcastle United vs Barcelona
🗓️Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
🏆 Competition: Champions League – Matchday 1
🟥Ref: Glenn Nyberg
⌚KO: 8:00 PM BST
📺Where to Watch: TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate
🏟️Stadium: St. James’ Park
Newcastle United vs Barcelona Stats and Head-to-Head
- Newcastle United and Barcelona have met 4 times in the Champions League, Barcelona won 3 and Newcastle 1
- Previous Meeting (group stage, 2002/03 season): Newcastle 0-2 Barcelona
- The Magpies have only won 1 of their last 8 European matches (D 3, L 4)
- Newcastle United have a good record against Spanish teams, winning 21 games, drawing 7, and losing just 3
- Newcastle United have won 4 of their last 6 home matches against Spanish opponents
- Barcelona have lost just 2 of their last 17 league phase / group stage matches against English teams (W 8, D 7)
- Barcelona have only lost 3 of their last 29 opening matches in the Champions League
- Newcastle United have never won the Champions League
- Barcelona have won five European Cups / Champions League, with the last one coming in 2015
- Barcelona have scored three or more goals in 10 of their last 13 Champions League matches
- Newcastle United’s top scorer last season: Alexander Isak (27 goals in all competitions)
- Barcelona’s top scorer last season: Robert Lewandowski (42 goals in all competitions)
- Newcastle United’s form (most recent first): W-D-L-W
- Barcelona’s form (most recent first): W-D-W-W
Newcastle United vs Barcelona Head-to-Head
United and Barcelona have met four times in the UEFA Champions League. The Blaugrana have been much superior, beating the Magpies in three of four occasions.
Newcastle’s only win over Barca came in the Group Stage of the 1997/98 season. The English side beat the Catalans 3-2 at St. James’ Park, thanks to a hat-trick from Faustino Asprilla.
| Competition | Played | Newcastle United (W) | Draw | Barcelona (W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Champions League | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Newcastle United vs Barcelona Odds – Main Markets
Barcelona are undoubtedly the more in-form team at the moment, but UK bookmakers do not see them as overwhelming favourites for the game. At 7/5, Barcelona are narrowly ahead of Newcastle United, who are priced at 7/4.
Oddsmakers are expecting both teams to score and the game to produce over 2.5 goals.
Match Result
- Newcastle United – 7/4
- Draw – 11/4
- Barcelona – 7/5
Both Teams to Score
- Yes – 2/5
- No – 2/1
Game to Produce 2.5 Goals
- Over – 1/2
- Under – 7/4
*Odds are subject to change
Newcastle United vs Barcelona Prediction and Best Bet
Newcastle United have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four games in the Premier League. Their defensive discipline would come in handy against Barcelona, but we are not expecting them to be successful.
Even with the most valuable player in the world Lamine Yamal sitting this one out (groin injury), Barca have enough firepower to outscore Newcastle and get the win.
✈️ The squad list for Newcastle! pic.twitter.com/md9rJVqXx7
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 17, 2025
Our Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Barcelona
Best Bet: Barcelona to Win @ 7/5
