(Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media, Imago, Getty)

Oliver Walton

Tue 16 September 2025 13:06, UK

Newcastle face Barcelona in the Champions League this week and a historic statistic from the La Liga giants’ last game shows that they still boast incredible depth even in the absence of Lamine Yamal.

Newcastle are back in the Champions League for 2025-26 after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season, with that position handed a place in the top European competition due to England’s high coefficient ranking.

There was a lot of optimism around St James’ Park when they achieved their return to the tournament, and while a tough summer window may have dissipated some confidence, Newcastle’s first league win of the season against Wolves last time out will have given Eddie Howe‘s side a huge lift.

The Magpies need all the help they can get, with La Liga champions Barcelona making the trip to Tyneside on Thursday (18 September) in a Champions League curtain-raiser.

Hansi Flick’s side have been in unsurprisingly imperious form as of late, and they made history against Valencia last time out, with a new feat achieved that should seriously worry Newcastle ahead of their upcoming meeting.

Newcastle must be wary of Barcelona’s depth as substitutes make La Liga history vs Valencia

Barcelona have gone unbeaten in 2025-26 so far, with a 3-0 win over Mallorca, 3-2 victory against Levante and 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano leading up to their latest home clash against Valencia on Sunday (14 September).

Flick’s side took a while to get going as Fermin Lopez put them the lead for half-time, but the game changed in the second-half as he grabbed his brace and Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski each did the same off the bench to make it 6-0 by full-time.

Barca’s strong form was amplified as the win saw three of their players scoring twice in one game for only the second time this century, while Raphinha and Lewandowski each made history as it was the first time ever in La Liga that two substitutes from the same side scored a brace in the same match.

That stat highlights their impressive squad depth, if it wasn’t already clear, with both players able to be called upon as substitutes despite being some of the best in the world in their respective positions.

Flick started Roony Bardghji, summer loan signing from Man United Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres as his front three against Los Che, who are all top players themselves, but then was still able to bring those other stars on, as well as Spain playmaker Dani Olmo, who registered 18 goal contributions in 39 games last season.

Even though generational talent Lamine Yamal could to miss the trip to Newcastle [BBC] due to a muscle injury picked up on international duty, it is clear that Barca still have more than enough to dispatch of the Magpies, who should be afraid of what faces them at St James’ Park even if the visitors are without their star man.

Barcelona’s impressive record against English sides should also concern Newcastle

Newcastle fans will create a fantastic atmosphere on Thursday that will likely exceed anything that Barcelona usually face in La Liga, but history is certainly not on their side when it comes to potentially winning this game.

The Spanish giants have won more Champions League games against English sides than any club has won against teams from a specific nation in the competition’s history, with 28 victories.

Including that famous 4-0 semi-final defeat to Liverpool in 2019, Barcelona have lost just twice in their last 17 meetings with English sides in the competition, with 12 of those games ending in wins for the five-time winners.

It is clear that Newcastle face a real uphill battle on Thursday with their opponents in fine form and having history on their side, but Howe will feel like anything is possible when the St James’ Park faithful are behind his team.