An interesting one, as Planet Football have given a ‘Champions League Dark Horse Power Ranking’ for Newcastle United.
This is ahead of the opening round of league matches that the 36 Champions League clubs are playing across these next three days (Tuesday-Thurday, 16-18 September 2025).
Planet Football looking at the clubs who could provide a bit of an upset.
They have picked out the 10 Champions League clubs who they think could surprise and make the last 16 knockout stages.
Planet Football pointing out as well; ‘As last year proved, the league phase can be more exciting than the traditional group stage matches and with eventual winners PSG finishing 15th, it shows that good form at the start does not always translate to trophies.’
Their report adding; ‘We have taken a look at 10 teams we would not be surprised to see make it through to the knockout rounds.
10. PSV
9. Galatasaray
8. Club Brugge
7. Monaco
6. Newcastle
When Newcastle thumped PSG 4-1 on an October night at St James’ in 2023, you could forgive Toon fans for thinking it was the start of something special.
But it was their only win in six Champions League matches that year, causing them to finish bottom of their group.
The struggle they found was balancing midweek European matches with a Premier League campaign and Eddie Howe will have to prove he has learned how to navigate that.
As Newcastle fans like to point out, they had a particularly tricky group last time round and the revamp of the competition may work in their favour.
Losing Alexander Isak cannot be understated but in Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Nick Woltemade, the club have the players to cause an upset.
Plus, they have the advantage of a raucous St James’ with Barcelona the first visitors in Gameweek 1.
4. Atalanta
3. Athletic Bilbao
2. Tottenham
1. Napoli
Conclusions?
I agree with much of what they have written above.
However, whilst of course having Champions League matches puts extra demands on your squad. It is ridiculous how the media so often completely ignore the fact that Newcastle United had Sandro Tonali suspended for the vast majority of that 2023/24 season and the worst season for injuries at NUFC in living memory. Also the small fact that Eddie Howe and his team were all but guaranteed going into the knockout stages, until cheated out of it by that horrendous late VAR penalty away at PSG. When afterwards UEFA admitted that it had been a massive blunder and the match officials involved were punished.