In a game that sums up exactly why Newcastle United pushed so hard to qualify for the Champions League last season, Eddie Howe's side will play host to Barcelona under the lights at St James Park on Thursday night.
Newcastle vs Barcelona team news
Whilst the game represents quite the spectacle, it also represents the chance for Newcastle to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season. The Magpies edged past Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out in the Premier League, courtesy of a debut goal from Nick Woltemade. Now, the towering striker will be looking to make it two from two against one of the biggest clubs that European football has to offer.
Nick-Woltemade
The German is likely to receive another start too, given that Yoane Wissa is still on the sidelines following his injury in the recent international break. As for the rest of the Newcastle squad, Jacob Ramsey is the only other injury concern that Howe has to deal with in another blow for one of the Magpies' summer arrivals.
It's set to be some challenge that lies ahead of Howe's side, but one that he has welcomed with open arms even without Ramsey and Wissa on Thursday evening.
"For me, it’s a magical game. It’s the type of game that you’re desperate to be a part of and desperate to hopefully represent the club really well in. That’s our challenge.
"Of course, there are connections with Sir Bobby that we fully embrace. That’s what makes it such a special thing."
In search of three points to get their Champions League campaign underway, Newcastle have already been handed a boost by Barcelona's own injury news. The Spanish giants have travelled without star man Lamine Yamal, who missed a 6-0 thrashing of Valencia last time out through a groin injury.
Manager Hansi Flick was left unhappy with Spain after the 18-year-old came back from international duty with the injury, telling reporters: "Lamine already went to the national team in pain. He took painkillers and played with the national team in pain.
Lamine Yamal for Barcelona
"He had problems, and played 79 and 73 minutes. That's not looking after the players. The Spanish national team has the best players in the world, but we should be looking after the professionals. Also the young players."
Newcastle predicted line-up (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier; Schar; Burn; Livramento; Tonali; Guimaraes; Joelinton; Elanga; Woltemade; Gordon
Barcelona predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Garcia; Kounde; Garcia; Cubarsi; Martin; Casado; Pedri; Raphinha; Fermin; Rashford; Lewandowski
Newcastle vs Barcelona H2H & recent results
Without a defeat all season and coming in off the back of a 6-0 defeat of Valencia, standing in the way of Flick's Barcelona machine will not be an easy task for Newcastle. But the Spanish giants are not without their weaknesses.
They eventually saw their Champions League run come to an end amid defensive frailties last season and those frailties are still there for all to see. The Catalan club conceded twice against Levante in a 3-2 victory and were held to a 1-1 draw by Rayo Vallencano last month. So, as scintillating as they are going forward, Barcelona are vulnerable going the other way.
It's Woltemade that could exploit that, too. At 6'6, the German will tower over all of Barcelona's backline and that's the route that Newcastle must take towards goal. Be it from set pieces or from open play, targeting the forward as well as tall centre-back Dan Burn is how the Magpies could snatch a shock victory here.
When it comes to form, Howe will be hoping that Newcastle have turned a corner after defeating Wolves. Before last weekend's victory, Newcastle had gone three games without three points.
Judging any head-to-head record between both sides may not provide an accurate prediction, either. The last time that Newcastle played Barcelona came in 2003, when the Spaniards picked up a 2-0 victory in Tyneside. Meanwhile, the three games before that came in 2002 and 1997, which featured just one Newcastle victory.
The odds also have Barcelona as the narrow favourites at 13/10, with Newcastle not far behind that price at 7/4 and a draw at 13/5, setting up a highly-anticipated affair.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Barcelona