Newcastle have restricted two of their last three home opponents to fewer than six shots on target
Barcelona have failed to have more than four shots on target in each of their last three away games
Recommended Bet: Under 5.5 Total Barcelona Shots on Target
Newcastle and Barcelona meet at St James’ Park on Tuesday in the first leg of a Champions League last‑16 tie which the Magpies will hope goes differently to the league phase meeting in September.
Marcus Rashford’s second-half brace set the visitors on their way to a 2-1 Matchday One victory on Tyneside back then, but Eddie Howe’s side went on to qualify for the knockout phase play-offs.
A 9-3 aggregate victory over Qarabag set up this rematch with the LaLiga leaders, who won 1-0 at Athletic Club on Saturday.
However, Newcastle’s form has been inconsistent of late, beating Manchester United in the league before suffering an FA Cup fifth-round home defeat to a second-string Manchester City side on Saturday.
Team news
Newcastle are still without several key players through injury with Fabian Schar (ankle), Bruno Guimaraes (muscle) and Lewis Miley (knee) all unavailable for both legs of the tie.
Tino Livramento, who has been out for two months with a hamstring injury, was named on the bench against Manchester City on Saturday and came on for the final throes of that 3-1 defeat.
It is probably still too soon for the right-back to start a game of this magnitude, so Kieran Trippier looks set to keep his place alongside Lewis Hall, Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw in the Magpies’ back four, with Aaron Ramsdale currently being preferred over Nick Pope in goal.
Anthony Gordon, Joelinton and Dan Burn will return to the starting XI with Sandro Tonali also assured of a place in midfield.
As for Barcelona, defenders Alejandro Balde (hamstring), Andreas Christensen (cruciate), and Jules Kounde (hamstring) miss out again alongside midfielder Frenkie de Jong (thigh).
Gavi has returned to the squad but is unlikely to feature until later in the month.
Marc Bernal, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski are expected to feature despite recent knocks with Flick likely to deploy a 4‑2‑3‑1 formation, with Lewandowski supported by Raphinha, Yamal, and Dani Olmo.
The stats
Newcastle have scored 26 goals in the Champions League this season and have kept four clean sheets.
Barcelona have scored 22 goals in the competition but are yet to keep a clean sheet.
The Blaugrana have won 10 of their last 12 Champions League knockout matches against English clubs since 2014.
Yamal scored his 19th goal of the season in all competitions in Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Athletic Club last weekend.
Gordon is the Magpies’ top scorer with 15 goals — including 10 in the Champions League.
Newcastle have scored more headed goals in the Champions League (six) than any other club in 2025-26.
The latest Newcastle vs Barcelona odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Newcastle must attempt to capitalise on home advantage in the first leg, but no one should expect a gung-ho approach from Howe’s side.
They slowed the game down when they could when Flick’s side made the same trip in September with the ball in play for less then 50% of the 90 minutes.
Barca bossed possession in that game and it seems likely that they will have the greater share of the ball again, but the LaLiga leaders have struggled to turn their dominance into shots on target and goals away from home recently.
The Magpies will no doubt be energised by an electric atmosphere at St James’ Park and not stop running all evening, which could curtail Barca’s ability to test the home keeper more than a handful of times.
Back Under 5.5 Total Barcelona Shots on Target at 10/13 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Newcastle vs Barcelona odds are available on LiveScore Bet
