The main threats for Barcelona in their visit to Newcastle
Published New:16/09/2025 - 20:42h
Updated New:16/09/2025 - 20:42h
Barça debuts in the Champions League against Newcastle, a team that lost Alexander Isak in the summer, but is still very dangerous in attack. Discover their main offensive weapons
Newcastle returns to the Champions League without its top scorer and main figure, Alexander Isak, but with a very competitive team and a consolidated project under the leadership of Eddie Howe. The 47-year-old coach is going for his sixth season with the 'Magpies' and has a squad valued at 659 million euros, a little more than half of their first European rival, FC Barcelona.
Hansi Flick's team, current champions of Spain and semi-finalists of the previous edition, boasts one of the most complete squads in Europe, with a value of 1,110 million euros and the most valuable player on the planet: Lamine Yamal. The '10' is likely to be out due to injury at St. James Park, a stadium where the Azulgrana team will have to be careful of several specific threats.
Nick Woltemade, the new Newcastle scorer who threatens Barça
The main offensive weapon of the 'Magpies' and their great signing for 25/26 is the German Nick Woltemade. The 23-year-old striker was on Barça's radar in the summer, but finally arrived at the 'black and white' team for 75 million euros from Stuttgart.
The '9' debuted scoring the winning goal last Friday against Wolverhampton (1-0). Thanks to his height (1.98 m), Woltemade is lethal in the aerial game. However, he is a fast player, with characteristics similar to Erling Haaland in terms of mobility and power in individual duels.
Unless there is a surprise, Nick will be accompanied by Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon in attack. The first arrived in the summer market for €61.5M after a great year at Nottingham. Last season, the German giant scored 17 goals in 33 games with Stuttgart.
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Newcastle's midfield, their main strength
However, Newcastle's main strength is, without a doubt, their midfield. Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes define what the team plays, with the Brazilian being the best in the squad by far. So far in 25/26, the midfielder has already scored a goal against Liverpool on matchday 2.
Next to the Italian, further forward, appears the figure of Joelinton. The also international with Brazil is usually the attacking midfielder, a position that he will alternate this season with the newcomer Jacob Ramsey. The midfielder left Aston Villa for €45M and, together with the striker Yoane Wissa (€57.7M) and the central defender Malick Tiaw (€35M) are the main reinforcements of coach Eddie Howe.
The trident formed by Tonali, Guimaraes and Joelinton accumulates 175 'kilos' of market value and, in 24/25, combined to produce 29 of the club's 88 goals in all competitions (33%).
This season, Newcastle has one victory, two draws and one defeat (against Liverpool) in the start of the Premier League. Last season, the club broke a 70-year streak without official titles after winning the League Cup.
The possible lineup of Newcastle against Barça:
- Pope; Trippier, Schär, Burn, Livramento; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon, Woltemade.
