Newcastle United are very close to the beginning of their 2025/26 Champions League campaign.
There is excitement on Tyneside, with Barcelona set to arrive at St James’ Park on 18th September.
The Champions League draw has handed Newcastle United some fantastic fixtures, but that is the pick of the bunch.
Barcelona are one of eight teams that Eddie Howe will face, as the Magpies get set to experience the new Champions League format for the first time.
They will face four teams at home and four teams away, one of which will be Bayer Leverkusen. Newcastle United travel to the BayArena on 10th December, as they get set to take on the Bundesliga giants.
General view of the BayArena before Bayer Leverkusen play against Bochum in the Bundesliga.
Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
Favourite to replace Erik ten Hag at Bayer Leverkusen emerges
By the time Newcastle face Bayer Leverkusen, a big change will have been made.
It was recently announced that Leverkusen have sacked Erik ten Hag, despite the former Manchester United boss only overseeing three games as manager.
They are now attempting to hire a replacement, with a favourite emerging.
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According to Fabrizio Romano, Kasper Hjulmand is the favourite to become the new Bayer Leverkusen manager after holding positive talks with the club.
He recently spent four years as the Denmark manager, but left after Euro 2024.
Now he could return to club football, with Romano stating that Hjulmand is ahead of Ange Postecoglou in the race to replace Ten Hag.
🚨🔴⚫️ Bayer Leverkusen had positive meeting with Kasper Hjulmand as favorite to become new head coach.
More talks this week but Hjulmand ahead of Ange Postecoglou and more candidates at this stage. pic.twitter.com/4O897XZ1oV
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 8, 2025
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When did Newcastle United last play against Bayer Leverkusen?
When Newcastle United face Bayer Leverkusen in December, it will be the first time that the two sides have met in more than 20 years.
The last clash between the two sides was February 2003, during the second group stage of the 2002/03 Champions League.
Newcastle beat Leverkusen 3-1 at St James’ Park, with Alan Shearer scoring a hat-trick.
The two sides had also met a week earlier in Germany, in a game that the Magpies also won 3-1. On that night, Shola Ameobi (two) and Lomana Lua Lua scored.
They are the only two times that Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen have played against each other, with their third ever encounter scheduled for 10th December 2025.