Newcastle and FC Barcelona face each other this Thursday, September 18, for matchday 1 of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 at St. James' Park Stadium (21:00 CEST) in the debut of both teams in the tournament. Hansi Flick's team has four absentees due to injury, with Lamine Yamal being the most sensitive absence for the 'culés'.

The '10' returned from the international break with Spain with muscular problems and, finally, was ruled out against Newcastle due to pubalgia that could leave him KO for the rest of the month. This forces the coaching staff to make important adjustments to the XI, tweaking their offensive trident compared to the League match against Valencia.

We review the possible starting lineup, the substitutes' bench, and the injured and suspended players of Barcelona under Hansi Flick for the Champions League debut against Newcastle. Complete analysis!

Probable starting XI for Barça:

  1. (#13, GK) Joan García
  2. (#23) Jules Koundé
  3. (#24) Eric García
  4. (#05) Pau Cubarsí
  5. (#18) Gerard Martín
  6. (#17) Marc Casadó
  7. (#08) Pedri
  8. (#16) Fermín López
  9. (#11) Raphinha
  10. (#14) Marcus Rashford
  11. (#09) Robert Lewandowski

Barça bench (substitute players):

  1. (#25, GK) Szczesny
  2. (#31, GK) Diego Kochen
  3. (#04) Ronald Araujo
  4. (#07) Ferran Torres
  5. (#15) Andreas Christensen
  6. (#20) Dani Olmo
  7. (#21) Frenkie de Jong
  8. (#22) Marc Bernal
  9. (#26) Jofre Torrents
  10. (#28) Roony Bardghji
  11. (#29) Toni Fernández

Injured Barça players:

  1. (#01) Marc-André ter Stegen
  2. (#03) Alejandro Balde
  3. (#06) Gavi
  4. (#10) Lamine Yamal

What will be the surprises and tactical variations of Flick's Barça against Newcastle?

Raphinha, Fermín and Lewandowski celebrating one of Barça's goals against Valencia (6-0)

In principle, Flick plans to make several adjustments to his XI from matchday 4 of La Liga against Valencia (6-0), with Robert Lewandowski as the area reference instead of Ferran Torres and Raphinha back as a winger due to Lamine's absence. In addition, Marc Casadó should remain as a pivot, although Frenkie de Jong will be available.

Goalkeeper and defense

  • Joan García will be in goal, while Jules Koundé and Gerard Martín will be the full-backs. In the center of the defense, Pau Cubarsí should partner with Eric García, with Ronald Araujo waiting for his opportunity on the bench alongside Andreas Christensen, the latter starting against Rayo before the break.

Midfield:

  • As a pivot, Marc Casadó is expected to be Pedri's partner in midfield, while Fermín López would remain as the team's attacking midfielder. Flick recovers Frenkie de Jong, who was out against Valencia due to a minor injury in his right leg. Dani Olmo, again, is expected to be a substitute.

Forward:

  • In attack, Raphinha and Marcus Rashford complete the 'azulgrana' attack alongside Robert Lewandowski. The Pole was a substitute in the first four matchdays of La Liga, but scored a brace against Valencia and is now fully fit to take Ferran Torres' place. Rafa, on the other hand, was also a substitute on Sunday by technical decision and will regain the captain's armband in England.

Barça's absences: Who will miss the match against Newcastle due to injury?

Lamine Yamal does not travel with Barça to Newcastle

For now, four Barça players will be confirmed absentees due to physical problems. Lamine Yamal remains on the sidelines due to a groin injury that could leave him KO for at least a couple more weeks. As it is pubalgia, the club will not take any risks with the reappearance of the '10', who began to feel discomfort before traveling with Spain to Bulgaria and Turkey.

Alejandro Balde will also not be available, due to an injury to his left femoral biceps that is expected to keep him in the infirmary for another week. The third absence for Barça in Newcastle will be Gavi. The midfielder remains separated from the group due to discomfort in his right knee that, if it persists, will force him to undergo surgery to 'clean' the meniscus.

For now, the club is betting on conservative treatment, pending the evolution of the '6'. The last absence, the most prolonged, is that of Ter Stegen. The goalkeeper underwent surgery on July 29 in Bordeaux and will be out for between four and five months, according to the deadlines set by the club. For now, the German continues his recovery at the Ciutat Esportiva.

The possible lineup of Newcastle: Gala XI for the English team?

  • Initial XI: Pope; Trippier, Schär, Burn, Livramento; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon, Woltemade.
  • Bench: Ramsdale (GK), Hall, Botman, Thiaw, Krafh, Osula, Willock, Murphy, Barnes, Miley.
  • Injured: None

Newcastle, meanwhile, arrives with its entire team available for its home debut in the Champions League. Eddie Howe's team is coming off their first Premier League victory against Wolverhampton (1-0) thanks to a goal from their new scorer, the German Nick Woltemade.

The 'magpies' began the season with a goalless draw against Aston Villa and then fell by the minimum against Liverpool (2-3). Before the break, they drew again without goals at Leeds' ground. Despite Alexander Isak's absence, the 'black and white' team maintains the base of the squad that was able to break seven decades of drought without titles with the obtaining of the League Cup.

In principle, Newcastle will take to the St. James' Park pitch with Pope in goal and the experienced Trippier and Livramento as full-backs. The central duo will be Schär-Burn, while in the center of the field will return the powerful trident formed by Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.

In attack, Nick Woltemade will be the main threat to the 'azulgrana' defense, a striker that Barça had on their radar last summer. Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon should accompany the German in a classic 4-3-3 that hopes to hurt the 'culés' with a vertical and very physical game, trying to take control of the center of the field from the initial whistle.