Newcastle vs Barcelona Preview & Tips – Newcastle to give Barcelona problems in the Champions League

By Ben Darvill

08 Mar 2026

Ben Darvill 08 Mar 2026

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Anthony Gordon has scored 10 goals for Newcastle in the Champions League this season
The Magpies have won their last four home matches in Europe
Preview, stats & head to head

Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United (Getty Images)

Newcastle vs Barcelona Preview & Tips
Head To Head
Newcastle Form
Barcelona Form

Newcastle vs Barcelona Preview & Tips

Newcastle are targeting redemption against Barcelona after they were handed a 2-1 loss by their opponents in the opening match of their 2025/26 Champions League season.

Barcelona beat Copenhagen 4-1 in their last European match as they ensured they would avoid an awkward playoff clash.

Anthony Gordon is the second highest scorer in the Champions League this season with 10 goals
Barcelona have failed to win two of their last three away games in Europe (L1, D1)

Head To Head

The pair have met five times in total, with Barcelona winning four meetings and Newcastle winning once.

Newcastle Form

Newcastle put the disappointment of missing out on a top eight spot in the group-stage of the Champions League behind them by hammering Qarabag 9-3 on aggregate.

While their 3-2 win at St James’ Park was a little closer than some thought it would be, the damage had already been done after Newcastle had routed their opponents 6-1 on the road the week before. While they were brilliant in the playoffs, it is incredibly unlikely that they will enjoy as one-sided an affair in the Round of 16.

Following their disappointing 2-1 loss to the Spanish side in their first match of their European campaign, I am backing the Magpies to bounce back in style. They have excelled at home, winning all of their last four in Europe and I back their top scorer in Anthony Gordon to continue his sublime form with another goal.

Barcelona Form

Barcelona ended the Champions League group-stage with a trio of wins over Eintracht Frankfurt (2-1), Slavia Prague (4-2) and Copenhagen (4-1) as they secured their spot in the top eight.

While they arrive for the Round of 16 eyeing their fourth consecutive win, prior to this run they had drawn 3-3 with Club Brugge and lost 3-0 to Chelsea. The common factor in both defeats was the Spanish side playing away from home.

Barcelona can fall back on beating Newcastle 2-1 on their last trip to St James’ Park back in September, but they will know that this will be a different type of encounter entirely. Newcastle will be full of confidence heading into this one with the idea that they need a lead to take to Spain at the forefront of their minds.

While Barcelona will give Newcastle a number of problems, I predict that they will have to win in Spain to ensure they do not have to stomach an early elimination from the Champions League

Verdict

Newcastle v Barcelona

I am backing Newcastle to secure an important win in the first-leg of this tie as Anthony Gordon continues his impressive scoring run in Europe.

Newcastle

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Anthony Gordon

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