Full-time
Tonali tries a long-range effort, but Garcia holds it comfortably.
Barcelona hang on and claim a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Newcastle.
Live Blog! Newcastle United vs. Barcelona in the Champions League
Final score – Newcastle United 1-2 Barcelona
Barcelona makes changes
Marc Casado replaces Lopez as Barça look to see out the final minutes.
90+4’ – Newcastle United 1-2 Barcelona
GOAL! Anthony Gordon brings Newcastle back into it
The striker fires one past the goalkeeper, making it 2-1 and giving the Magpies a late lifeline.
90’ – Newcastle United 1-2 Barcelona
Barcelona make two substitutions
Rashford and Gerard Martin leave the field, making way for Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo as Barça manage the closing stages of the match.
83’ – Newcastle United 0-2 Barcelona
Newcastle makes another change
With about 15 minutes remaining, Sven Botman replaces Trippier as the Magpies look to strengthen their defense.
77’ – Newcastle United 0-2 Barcelona
Barcelona refresh the lineup
Lewandowski and Pau Cubarsi leave the field, making way for Ferran Torres and Andreas Christensen as Barcelona look to maintain control.
72’ – Newcastle United 0-2 Barcelona
GOAL! Rashford doubles Barcelona’s lead
Rashford finds the back of the net and puts Barcelona 2-0 up in Newcastle.
67’ – Newcastle United 0-2 Barcelona
Newcastle shake things up
The Magpies make four substitutions to try and turn the game around.
Off go Schar, Barnes, Elanga, and Joelinton, while Woltemade, Willock, Murphy, and Thiaw enter the pitch.
65’ – Newcastle United 0-1 Barcelona
GOAL! Rashford opens the scoring
Rashford finds the net and breaks the deadlock, giving Barcelona the lead.
58’ – Newcastle United 0-1 Barcelona
Schar hit – then play resumes
Rashford’s powerful strike earlier hit Schar in the face, leaving the Newcastle defender down for treatment.
He’s back on his feet now, and Barcelona take a corner. The set-piece is played short but fizzles out without danger.
53’ – Newcastle United 0-0 Barcelona
Second half kicks off
The teams are back on the pitch at St. James’ Park.
Who will strike first and take the lead?
46’ – Newcastle United 0-0 Barcelona
Half-time
The first 45 minutes are over at St. James’ Park.
It’s goalless at the break, with both teams showing flashes but failing to find the net.
Half-time – Newcastle United 0-0 Barcelona
Two minutes added time
Martin is shown a yellow card after a late tackle on Guimaraes.
The Newcastle captain stays on the ground for a moment, clearly feeling the challenge.
45+1’ – Newcastle United 0-0 Barcelona
Barcelona win a free kick – then miss the chance
As the first half nears its end, Barcelona have been the stronger side, keeping possession mostly in Newcastle’s half.
A long spell of control ends with Raphinha winning a free kick in a dangerous area.
He steps up from around 25 yards, but his curling effort sails over the bar.
41’ – Newcastle United 0-0 Barcelona
Lewandowski fouled
Schar clips Lewandowski from behind, and Barcelona are awarded a free kick.
The Polish striker makes sure the referee knows he’s been brought down several times already.
33’ – Newcastle United 0-0 Barcelona
Garcia keeps it out
Newcastle launches a brilliant counter!
Elanga uses his speed down the right flank and curls a cross to Barnes at the far post.
Barnes takes a first-time shot, but Garcia reacts brilliantly to make the save with his right foot.
25’ – Newcastle United 0-0 Barcelona
Rashford leads another counter
Trippier sends a high free kick into the box, but Barcelona’s defense manages to clear it.
Barcelona almost catches Rashford on the break, but Trippier sprints back to neutralize the threat.
22’ – Newcastle United 0-0 Barcelona
Corner for Newcastle
Barnes delivers a dangerous cross that gets blocked and goes out for a corner.
Trippier had an opening to take a shot but chose to lift the ball to Barnes instead.
15’ – Newcastle United 0-0 Barcelona
Kickoff
Barcelona, in their all-orange kit, get us started.
They’re attacking left to right on your screen.
The noise inside the stadium is deafening.
Score: Newcastle 0-0 Barcelona.
Barcelona Kicks Off Champions League Against Newcastle at St. James’ Park Without Lamine Yamal
FC Barcelona begins its 2025/26 Champions League journey at the iconic St. James’ Park, home of Newcastle United, aiming to lift the coveted trophy for the first time since 2015. The Culés arrive in England without their young star Lamine Yamal, sidelined by pubis discomfort, but with their hopes intact of securing the sixth Champions League title in their history.
Hansi Flick’s team looks to build on the strong momentum from their 6-0 LaLiga thrashing of Valencia. Without Yamal, or the injured Alejandro Balde, Gavi, and Marc-André ter Stegen, Barça will rely on the magic of Pedri, the excellent form of Fermín López, and the return of Frenkie de Jong, who is now fully recovered.
In attack, Raphinha is set to start, while the choice between Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, who’s off to a great start this season, remains uncertain. In defense, Flick might opt for Ronald Araújo to neutralize Newcastle’s German striker Nick Woltemade, the offensive focal point following the big-money departure of Alexander Isak.
Newcastle United, meanwhile, is in a rebuilding phase. With just one win in their early Premier League matches, Eddie Howe’s team is banking on the aerial prowess of Woltemade and the speed of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga to trouble Barcelona. The memory of the Magpies’ last Champions League appearance in 2003 adds a historic dimension to this high-stakes clash.
Barcelona knows that overcoming an intense opponent like Newcastle will be crucial before hosting the reigning champions, Paris Saint-Germain, in the second matchday of the group stage.
