Newcastle play host to Barcelona at St James’ Park
A mouthwatering Champions League contest takes centre stage at St James’ Park on Thursday night as Newcastle United play host to Barcelona in their opening League Phase fixture of the 2025-26 competition.
The two teams lock horns for the first time since March 2003 when goals from Patrick Kluivert and Thiago Motta secured a 2-0 away victory for the Catalan giants in the second group stage.
Following the sour exit of Alexander Isak on deadline day, all eyes were on Newcastle’s club-record signing Nick Woltemade when he stepped onto the St James’ Park turf for the first time as a Premier League player in last Saturday’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
After netting 17 Bundesliga goals for Stuttgart last season, the German striker did not disappoint on his full debut for Newcastle, as he used all of his 6ft 6in frame to rise and power home a superb header in the first half to seal a slender 1-0 home win for the Magpies, ending the club’s three-game winless run.
The Magpies head into Thursday’s contest having won just one of their last eight European games (D3 L4), but they have only suffered defeat in three of their last 31 European home fixtures (W21 D7) and have won four of their six home encounters with Spanish opposition in UEFA club competition (L2), which bodes well ahead of their tricky test against Barcelona.
Currently sitting second in the La Liga standings behind early leaders Real Madrid, Barcelona are determined to finish above their arch rivals once again this term, while they are also eager to end their 11-year wait to lift the Champions League after coming up short in the semi-finals of last season’s competition, losing a chaotic two-legged tie with Inter Milan 7-6 on aggregate.
This season represents Barca’s 30th campaign in the Champions League.
Newcastle are sure to pose a threat of their own and will hope to take advantage of Barca’s high defensive line, but the visitors may just have enough to come away with maximum points from an entertaining encounter.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Galatasaray travel away to face Frankfurt
Making a rare appearance in Europe’s top tournament, Eintracht Frankfurt will commence just their second Champions League campaign on Thursday, when Turkish giants Galatasaray pay a visit to Deutsche Bank Park.
Making their return to the Champions League, Eintracht reached the last 16 three years ago, on their first appearance at the top level since losing 7-3 to Real Madrid in a classic 1960 final.
So far this season, Toppmoller’s men followed a 5-0 first-round win in the DFB-Pokal with back-to-back victories in the Bundesliga, but they came unstuck against Bayer Leverkusen last weekend.
Despite playing with an extra man for the final half-hour, Frankfurt suffered a chastening 3-1 defeat to one of their likely rivals for a top-four finish.
Nonetheless, the 2022 Europa League winners can now return to home turf, where they have lost just two of their last 13 continental group or league fixtures.
Furthermore, Frankfurt’s sole loss in eight meetings with Turkish teams came way back in 1992 – albeit it was against Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup.
For all their supremacy on Turkish soil, Galatasaray often fail to produce the goods elsewhere in Europe, so they will suffer an opening-day defeat.
Making shrewd signings, Frankfurt have been making impressive progress – and they are always tough to beat on home turf.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Copenhagen welcome Leverkusen in Champs League Clash
By Jesse Otoo
Bayer Leverkusen’s new era under Kasper Hjulmand takes its first steps on the Champions League stage tomorrow, as the German heavyweights travel to Denmark to face FC Copenhagen.
The Danish tactician replaced Erik ten Hag over the summer and could hardly have wished for a brighter start. His debut brought a fiery 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt; a match packed with four goals, two red cards, and a penalty. Now, Hjulmand prepares for an emotional return to his homeland, eyeing a first-ever Champions League victory as a manager.
Leverkusen have established themselves as a force in Europe in recent years, reaching the Europa League final in 2024 before taking notable scalps in the Champions League last season. Leverkusen impressed last season with big wins over European giants, and while tough tests against PSG, Man City, and Newcastle await, their attention is on tomorrow’s opener in Copenhagen.
For their part, the Danish champions return to the elite competition after a one-year absence, having swapped the Champions League spotlight for a Conference League run that ended in the last 16 against Chelsea. Jacob Neestrup’s men battled through qualifiers against Drita, Malmo FF, and Basel to reach this stage, but they enter the group phase wounded by a 2-1 derby defeat to Brondby at the weekend.
History also weighs against Copenhagen; they have lost each of their last eight home meetings with German opposition.
Against a Copenhagen side with a poor record against Bundesliga opposition, the Dane will fancy his chances of marking his return home with a statement victory.
Napoli faceoff with Manchester City today
By Jesse Otoo
Antonio Conte is set to begin a new chapter in his Champions League journey as Napoli head to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City in their opening League Phase fixture of the 2025-26 campaign.
Conte’s men have carried a momentum into the new campaign, starting with three straight wins over Cagliari, Sassuolo, and Fiorentina.
New recruits Kevin De Bruyne and Rasmus Hojlund have quickly stamped their mark. Despite the strong start, Conte has urged his side to sharpen their concentration after a late lapse allowed Fiorentina to pull one back.
Tomorrow’s challenge, however, is of an entirely different scale. City, crowned European champions in 2023, appear to be regaining their rhythm following a shaky start to the season. Pep Guardiola’s side came alive in the Manchester derby on Sunday, sweeping aside United 3-0 with goals from Phil Foden and a Haaland brace. The result has boosted confidence as they enter their 15th consecutive Champions League campaign. Still, City’s recent record in Europe is patchy, with four defeats in their last five outings.
FIXTURES
København 17:45 Bayer Leverkusen
