Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Barcelona are going to be walking into a cauldron of noise when they play Newcastle United in the Champions League on Thursday night.
Newcastle United vs Barcelona looks like the standout Champions League fixture of the week as Eddie Howe’s side return to the grandest stage of European competition.
European nights at St James’ Park are something to behold and the energy created on the terraces can directly translate into a brilliant Newcastle United performance on the pitch, as Paris Saint-Germain found out back in 2023.
While Barca no doubt look like slight favourites for the game, it would be foolish to write Newcastle off at home.
A view of St James' Park during a Champions League game between Newcastle United and PSG.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Andreas Christensen speaks about Newcastle United fans
Indeed, Barca defender Andreas Christensen – who played on Tyneside during his days at Chelsea – has been talking about what awaits the Spanish champions.
The Danish international was speaking at a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
Christensen revealed that Barca boss Hansi Flick had asked him about the atmosphere on Tyneside.
He said that he was quick to claim it was one of, if not the, best in the Premier League.
“Hansi [Flick] actually just asked me that in the car and I was pretty fast to say it is one of the best, if not the best, especially on a Champions League night,” he said.
“From playing here in the Premier League, we have to be very focused. [The atmosphere] will be a big part of the game.”
The famous Newcastle United fan who won’t be at the Barcelona game
Sadly for Alan Shearer, he will not be in attendance.
It’s a shame for Newcastle United’s greatest of legends, who was linked with a move to the Catalan giants during his playing career before returning to his boyhood club from Blackburn.
Shearer cannot attend Newcastle vs Barcelona in the Champions League because he needs to attend a Premier League activation event in Kansas City.
Speaking on The Rest is Football earlier this week, Shearer said: “Can you believe it? The fan fest that the Premier League do in the United States, this has been arranged for such a long time.
“I’m going to Kansas and my flight is on Thursday. Can you believe that? I’m going to miss the game. I can’t believe it. Nightmare for me, unfortunately.”
That is gutting for Shearer, but you’d have to back Newcastle fans to make up for his absence.
Whether it’s enough to win the game is up for debate. One thing is for certain, however, and that is that it’s going to be a wild atmosphere.