Amid a shaky start to the domestic campaign, Newcastle face a daunting task to begin Champions League action as they host defending La Liga title winners Barcelona in the first game of the league phase.

The Magpies have won just once in their first four Premier League matches of the season, struggling to replace the attacking threat that departed talisman Alexander Isak presented. With new signing Nick Woltemade hoping to shoulder the burden, they are still thin up front.

Barcelona, on the other hand, are loaded with world-class attacking talent, although Ballon d’Or candidate Lamine Yamal will not be available for this match due to an abdominal injury.

The Sporting News is following the Newcastle vs. Barcelona match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.

JUMP TO: Latest live updates | Team news and lineups | How to watch where you are

Newcastle vs. Barcelona score

  Score (1H) Goal scorers
Newcastle 0 –
Barcelona 0 –

Location: St. James’ Park (Newcastle, England)
Referee: Glenn Nyberg (SWE)

Starting lineups:

Newcastle (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Pope (GK) — 2. Trippier, 5. Schar, 33. Burn, 21. Livramento — 39. Guimaraes, 8. Tonali, 7. Joelinton — 20. Elanga, 10. Gordon, 11. Barnes.

Barcelona (4-2-3-1, right to left): 13. J. Garcia (GK) — 23. Kounde, 4. Araujo, 5. Cubarsi, 18. Martin — 21. de Jong, 8. Pedri — 11. Raphinha, 16. F. Lopez, 14. Rashford — 9. Lewandowski.

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Newcastle vs. Barcelona live updates, highlights from Champions League

24th min: Chance, Newcastle! WHAT A SAVE JOAN GARCIA! Anthony Elanga runs a two-on-two counter-attack, and his cross from the right edge of the penalty area finds Harvey Barnes at the far post. The ball across the face of goal perfectly eludes Jules Kounde, but the Barcelona goalkeeper hurries across his line to make the save at his new near post!

20th min: The match has not lost its energy or attacking intent on either side, but it has lost a bit of execution. Neither side has been able to break down the other as the two teams settle into the match. Lots of final third possession for both sides so far, but nothing much coming from it.

9th min: Chance, Barcelona! Marcus Rashford works one-on-one against Kieran Trippier down the left flank and charges in on goal, but his right-footed effort is just wide of the near post! This game is starting with just as much electricity as we thought it might!

7th min: Chance, Newcastle! Harvey Barnes gets a through-ball from up the gut and is free on goal, but his effort is thwarted by a slight touch from Joan Garcia off his line! It wouldn’t have counted anyways, as the offside flag rightly went up, but Newcastle continue to put the clamps on Barcelona’s build-up!

6th min: Chance, Newcastle! ANTHONY GORDON COMPLETELY WHIFFS ON A HUGE CHANCE! Newcastle build up the right wing and a cutback by Anthony Elanga is fed from the byline straight to a wide-open Gordon on the penalty spot…but he swings wildly at the ball and completely misses! He had the entire goal to shoot at and doesn’t even make contact!

4th min: Much has been made of Barcelona’s high line, but Newcastle are the ones pressing extremely high early on, spurned on by the raucous crowd as they try to clamp down on Barcelona’s build-up from the back. So far it has not generated turnovers in dangerous positions but they are certainly putting pressure on the visitors.

Kickoff: They’re under way at St. James’ Park! A deafening rendition of AC/DC’s “Back in Black” has rung out over the PA system, while a banner reflected the same to reflect the club’s colors.

Newcastle vs. Barcelona: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to kickoff: Raphinha may have won himself a Ballon d’Or on this very Champions League stage, as he equalled Cristiano Ronaldo‘s record for goal involvements in a single tournament through the 2024/25 campaign. What will he have in store to begin 2025/26? We’re about to find out!

30 mins to kickoff: Today Barcelona are on the road, but they had hoped that their home matches would be played back at the renovated Camp Nou at this point. Yet thanks to extensive delays, the club has yet to return to their main stadium, and it appears that will continue.

A report has just emerged that their next Champions League game, a huge matchup of title contenders with PSG, will be played at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, not the Camp Nou. The end of this renovation has turned into a logistical nightmare for the club, its fans, and stakeholders.

45 mins to kickoff: Anthony Gordon’s red card in Premier League play has wide-ranging consequences for the club. With only William Osula as an option other than new signing Nick Woltemade, it forces Eddie Howe to go with Gordon today in a place where he’d probably wish to have Woltemade available.

Newcastle have to navigate today’s big Champions League game, a Premier League match against Bournemouth, a tricky EFL Cup match against Bradford City on Wednesday (where Osula will probably start), and then a meeting with Arsenal next weekend. The Gordon red card leaves the Magpies stretched thin, and ultimately forced Howe’s hand today.

1 hour to kickoff: What an opportunity today presents for Marcus Rashford to prove to fans in England that they were mistaken to let him go. He gets the start today with Lamine Yamal injured, his first Champions League opportunity with Barcelona having failed to score last year in four appearances for Aston Villa (although he did pick up two assists).

Hansi Flick has been talking Rashford up in the lead-up to this game, backing his new signing to snag his first goal for the club.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: Lineups are in! Newcastle have gone with Anthony Gordon up top at the striker position, with Nick Woltemade on the bench. This is likely because Gordon is suspended for Premier League play, and Eddie Howe does not wish to put Woltemade in the starting lineup for three games in a week, so Gordon plays today and the new man will take over in Premier League action to come.

The only tweak for Barcelona is that, without Lamine Yamal, Hansi Flick has elected to place Marcus Rashford and Fermin Lopez in the starting lineup, with Ferran Torres on the bench. Frenkie de Jong passes fit to start in midfield.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: Lamine Yamal’s absence for Barcelona today and in the immediate future has caused quite a stir. It has even generated a slight rift between Barcelona and the Spanish federation as the two squabble over the cause of the injury.

The Sporting News explained the nature of his injury, how it occurred, why the two entities are at odds over it, and when he may be set to return.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: In today’s match programme, Dan Burn has called on Newcastle fans to make this “PSG 2.0” whatever that means!

2 hours to kickoff: These Barcelona fans have heard about the atmosphere at St. James’ Park, and will be excited to experience it for themselves! The Barcelona squad, however, are unlikely to savour the hostility…

Newcastle vs. Barcelona kick off time

This UEFA Champions League league phase match kicks off from St. James’ Park on Thursday, September 18 at 8 p.m. local time in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:

  Date Kickoff time
USA/Canada Thu, Sep. 18 3 p.m. ET
USA/Canada Thu, Sep. 18 12 p.m. PT
UK Thu, Sep. 18 8 p.m. BST
Australia Fri, Sep. 19 5 a.m. AEST
India Fri, Sep. 19 12:30 a.m. IST

Newcastle vs. Barcelona lineups, team news

Newcastle’s summer signing Yoane Wissa will not feature after suffering a knee injury while on international duty with DR Congo, where he had scored twice. The striker, who joined from Brentford on deadline day, was expected to play a central role but his setback kept him out of the narrow 1-0 win over Wolves at the weekend.

In his place, new arrival Nick Woltemade seized the opportunity, marking his debut with a towering header that sealed all three points for Howe’s side. The 23-year-old, who arrived from Stuttgart, is expected to retain his spot up front.

Jacob Ramsey is another absentee as he continues recovery from an ankle problem. Meanwhile, Anthony Gordon is available for selection in Europe despite serving a domestic suspension.

Newcastle starting lineup (4-3-3): Pope (GK) — Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento — Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton — Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.

Newcastle subs: Thompson (GK), Ramsdale (GK), Hall, Botman, Thiaw, Krafth, Miley, J. Murphy, Willock, A. Murphy, Osula.

The big absentee for Barcelona is Spain star Lamine Yamal, who was left out of the travelling squad due to a persistent groin issue. Gavi remains a long-term absentee with a troubling knee injury that may still require another surgery, while Frenkie de Jong faces a race against time after suffering a muscle issue on international duty with the Netherlands.

The Catalan club are still without experienced goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who is recovering from back surgery and not expected to return until later this year, meaning Joan Garcia could start between the posts.

Alejandro Balde is ruled out with a hamstring problem suffered in training and his absence forces changes in defence as Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia are expected to anchor the backline together with Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin.

There is a decision for Hansi Flick as he chooses between Fermin Lopez and Ferran Torres in support of the main attacking duo Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.

Barcelona starting lineup (4-2-3-1): J. Garcia (GK) — Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Martin — de Jong, Pedri — Raphinha, Lopez, Rashford — Lewandowski.

Barcelona subs: Szczesny (GK), Kochen (GK), Casado, Christensen, E. Garcia, Bernal, Jofre, Roony, A. Fernandez, Olmo, F. Torres.

Newcastle vs. Barcelona live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions:

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