The Magpies are breaking new ground when it comes to the Champions League this season
Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon celebrate the second goal against Benfica
Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon celebrate against Benfica(Image: Getty Images)
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The takeover of Newcastle United in 2021 brought with it dreams of challenging the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich on the European stage, after years in the relative wilderness for the Magpies.
The reality, thanks to financial fair play and PSR restrictions, has meant Newcastle have had to be more pragmatic as they climb the steep ascent towards competing with the world's top clubs on an even footing.
The transformation has been rapid, of course. It was only five years ago that United were stuck in a rut of battling against relegation from the Premier League.
Now they are into the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time, with silverware in the trophy cabinet and ambitions that run as high as anyone's.
United's campaign among Europe's elite this season has underlined that they are a force to be reckonned with, and while they will be ranked among the outsiders to make further progress, no side will want to come to St James' Park.
One of the key reasons for their success is their ability to score goals in the compeition. No side has scored more than United's 26 this season, with PSG joint top of the leaderboard.
Boosted by the 9-3 aggregate play-off success over Qarabag, United are proudly top of that table, ahead of Real Madrid (24), Atletico Madrid (24) and Arsenal (23).
On an individual level, it's just as impressive. We all know Anthony Gordon's 10 goals see him trail only Madrid and France superstar Kylian Mbappe, but when it comes to goal contributions, United are also ahead of the field.
Gordon and team-mate Harvey Barnes have 20 goals and assists between them, which can be bettered only by Madrid pair Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, who have 21.
Vinicius Jr celebrates a Real Madrid goal with Kylian Mbappe
Vinicius Jr celebrates with Real Madrid team-mate Kylian Mbappe(Image: David S. Bustamante/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
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Barnes has hit five goals in the Champions League and added three further assists, while Gordon has two assists to go with his goals tally.
Barnes is in esteemed company, rubbing shoulders with Harry Kane, Fermin Lopez and Dominik Szboszlai, while only Victor Osmihen and Marcus Rashford edge ahead of the United winger, behind Mbappe and Gordon.
It bodes well for the knockout stages, with United learning their fate this morning.
Chelsea or Barcelona await, with Liverpool, Tottenham or Atletico Madrid potential quarter-final opponents.
No one inside St James' will get ahead of themselves at this stage, but whoever Newcastle get, you can be sure they have the firepower to cause them problems.
2025-26 Champions League goal involvements
14 Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
9 Victor Osmihen (Galatasray)
9 Marcus Rashford (Barcelona)
8 Harvey Barnes (Newcastle United)
8 Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
8 Fermin Lopez (Barcelona)
8 Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)
8 Dominik Szboszlai (Liverpool)
8 Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
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