The Champions League is back at St. James' Park, as Newcastle United prepares to host Barcelona in a highly anticipated opening match of the 2025/26 season. The game, kicking off at 8pm BST on Thursday, September 18, marks the return of Champions League football to Newcastle after a hiatus, and what better way to start than against the Spanish giants.

The Road to St. James' Park

Newcastle United secured their place in the Champions League after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season. This will be only the second time in the decade that the Magpies have participated in the competition. The team is eager to make a mark on the European stage after what they considered a "failure" two seasons ago. Meanwhile, Barcelona, who won La Liga and reached the Champions League semi-finals last season, are considered frontrunners in the competition.

Team News and Key Players

Newcastle will be without Yoane Wissa due to a knee injury, but new signing Nick Woltemade, who scored on his debut against Wolves, is available. Anthony Gordon is also set to return to the squad after serving a domestic suspension.

Barcelona will miss Lamine Yamal due to injury, but Frenkie de Jong is available. Marcus Rashford returns to England with Barcelona and could start alongside Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha in attack. Key players to watch include Anthony Elanga for Newcastle and Robert Lewandowski for Barcelona.

What to Expect

The atmosphere at St. James' Park is expected to be electric, as Newcastle fans celebrate their return to the Champions League. Manager Eddie Howe has expressed his excitement for the match, calling it a "historic fixture" and emphasizing the importance of tactical preparation. He believes the team can draw on their experience from previous European games, including their 4-1 win against Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has backed his former club to get a positive result, acknowledging that St James' Park is a difficult place for any team to visit. However, Barcelona, under the guidance of Hansi Flick, are a formidable opponent. They have started the season strongly, with a 6-0 victory in their last game.

Champions League Format

This season's Champions League features a new league phase format, with 36 teams participating in a single league table. Each team will play eight matches against different opponents. Newcastle's league phase opponents are Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica, Marseille, PSV Eindhoven, Athletic Club and Union Saint-Gilloise. The top eight teams in the league table will advance directly to the Round of 16, while the teams ranked ninth through 24th will compete in a two-legged play-off to reach the knockout phase.

Match Details

The match between Newcastle United and Barcelona will take place on Thursday, September 18, at St. James' Park. Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm BST. Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg will be in charge of the game. For viewers in the UK, the game will be broadcast on TNT Sports, with Laura Woods hosting the coverage alongside Joe Cole and Shay Given. Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist will be on commentary duty.

This match promises to be a memorable occasion for Newcastle United and their fans, as they welcome Barcelona to St. James' Park for a blockbuster Champions League clash.