Newcastle United endured a steep learning curve during their last Champions League campaign in 2023/24.
Firstly, they were placed in a difficult group with two former winners and one soon-to-be winner. This was great for glamour ties but not so good for Newcastle’s hopes of progression.
As the campaign progressed and players started dropping, the same team had to play nonstop in both Europe and domestically, which impacted their results through the autumn and into the winter.
There were challenges associated with playing at this elite level of football, with Dortmund displaying exactly how to approach European ties in both games against the Magpies, and then Milan taking advantage of Newcastle’s lack of experience. The body blow in Paris was an example of how matches are officiated differently on the continent.
So, there were key lessons to be learned for Newcastle as a club, the players, and also for Eddie Howe, who enters this campaign better equipped for the experience of 2023. Being back in the Champions League doesn’t have the same novelty factor as it did two years ago, although there are some exciting games to look forward to. This time around, expectations will be greater.
The format change means there are additional games into the new year, and Newcastle will have seven opponents rather than three. Due to the coefficient the Magpies remain in the bottom tier, which means they once again have a tough set of fixtures, but there is a clear path to progression and Newcastle will expect to make it into the playoff round at least.
The top 8 teams after the league phase qualify for the round of 16. Teams placed from 9th – 24th have a playoff game to reach the next round. Last season, 16 points was enough to see Aston Villa, Lille and Leverkusen finish in the top 8. 12 points guaranteed Celtic and Juventus a spot in the top 24, while Dinamo Zagreb were the unlucky one of four teams to miss out with 11 points.
The order of Newcastle’s fixtures offers some hope that they can manoeuvre into a strong position. First up is the Hollywood tie against Barcelona at what will be a raucous St James’ Park – a perfect first fixture. That is followed by a trip to Union Saint-Gilloise (undefeated this season in seven domestic games) before back-to-back home games with Benfica and Athletic Bilbao. Trips to Marseilles and Leverkusen are next, then a home match with PSV Eindhoven before the league phase ends with a journey to PSG.
Three home games from the first four gives Newcastle an opportunity to get points on the board early, and nobody will be relishing the prospect of coming to St James’ Park. 8-10 points from this group of games would set the Magpies up nicely heading into tricky assignments on the road. Assuming 12 points is enough for a playoff place again, that would leave 2-4 points needed from Marseilles, Leverkusen, PSV an PSG. Howe will hope not to be travelling to the current European champions in Paris needing a result to avoid elimination, and the fact this fixture is last is a good thing for focussing minds before that trip.
A simpler way of viewing the campaign would be to say winning all four home games should guarantee a playoff place, while supplementing this with a win and a draw on the road should confirm a place in the round of 16.
Critical to the success of the European campaign will be managing the squad. Newcastle were underequipped for fighting on four fronts in 2023/24 and the squad’s shortcomings were brutally exposed through the winter.
The Champions League draw didn’t help, and nor did the domestic cup draws which saw ties against Manchester City twice, Manchester United and Chelsea, as well as an away derby at Sunderland. It meant that Howe had to play his strongest team in almost every game with minimal opportunity for rotation. When injuries hit the squad was beyond breaking point.
The squad of 2025/26 on paper is stronger than two years ago. The age profile is younger and there is competition for all places, albeit a couple of the new signings are already missing with injuries. Howe’s challenge now is how to balance the squad while picking up results.
Newcastle’s game at Bournemouth kicks off just 64 hours after the Barcelona match finishes. The task of preparing the squad for both games in terms of fitness and tactics is enormous, but this is the level Newcastle want to be at. They must adapt and handle it better than last time around.
Rotation is something that we will have to get used to, with key players who would ordinarily be among the first names on the team sheet starting some games on the bench. The hope will be that players push each other, performance levels are raised, and the squad options can be trusted when called upon. Newcastle will now have to operate at an elite level, and the hopes of success in Europe and at home this season depend on how well the transition is handled.
A win against Barcelona would be the best possible start…
HWTL!