FC Barcelona will face Newcastle United in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, following a draw held Friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The first leg is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10th at St. James’ Park, with a 9:00 PM CET kickoff, and the return leg will be played at Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday, March 18th at 6:45 PM CET.
The tie marks a rematch within the same season, as Barcelona previously defeated Newcastle 2-1 at St. James’ Park during the league phase of the competition. However, that victory included goals from Marcus Rashford, who is currently on loan from Manchester United, and the availability of key Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is uncertain for the upcoming matches due to injury, according to reports.
Barcelona President Joan Laporta acknowledged the challenge posed by Newcastle, noting that English teams are “used to knockout tournaments.” The draw also sets up a potential quarter-final clash against either Atlético Madrid or Tottenham Hotspur should Barcelona advance. Further down the line, potential semi-final opponents include Sporting Clube, Bodo Glimt, Arsenal, or Bayer Leverkusen.
Newcastle United advanced to the Round of 16 after defeating Qarabag in the playoff round. Manager Eddie Howe will oversee a demanding March schedule for his team, which includes both Champions League legs against Barcelona, as well as Premier League fixtures against Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea, alongside a local derby against Sunderland.
Former Barcelona player Rakitic expressed confidence in the Catalan club’s chances, stating that they are “the favorites and can win this Champions League,” citing the impact of players like Pedri, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is preparing for his 100th game in charge of the club during a domestic clash with Villarreal on Saturday.
The Champions League final for the 2025-26 season is scheduled to be held at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30th.
