Hansi Flick, Head Coach of FC Barcelona, looks on prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Oviedo at Spotify Camp Nou on January 25, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)placeholder image
Hansi Flick, Head Coach of FC Barcelona, looks on prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Oviedo at Spotify Camp Nou on January 25, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Barcelona have confirmed a 23-man squad for their Champions League last 16 first-leg clash against Newcastle United.
Hansi Flick’s side beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of the La Liga table to four points.
They then spent the night in the Basque region before boarding a flight directly to Newcastle. However, Barca aren’t staying in the city, instead spending last night in Northumberland.
Lamine Yamal available - Barcelona’s 23-man squad v Newcastle United
Barcelona will train at St James’ Park this evening and, unlike last time, will have star man Lamine Yamal available.
The 18-year-old sensation missed the league phase meeting in September, which Barca won 2-1 courtesy of a Marcus Rashford brace, due to a groin injury.
Here is Barcelona’s confirmed 23-man squad to face Newcastle:
GK: Joan Garcia, Wojciech Szczesny, Diego Kochen.
DEF: Joao Cancelo, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Eric García, Alvaro Cortes, Xavi Espart.
MID: Gavi, Pedri, Fermin Lopez, Marc Casado, Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal, Tommy Marques.
ATT: Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Marcus Rashford, Roony Bardghji.
Barcelona star ruled out v Newcastle United despite travelling
Although Gavi has travelled with his teammates, the 21-year-old midfielder isn’t available for selection as he completes the final stages of his recovery from a knee injury.
However, with Gavi due to return after the upcoming international break, Flick feels it is beneficial for the player to be back around the squad from now.
"He will travel with us, he will be training with us, but he isn't ready to play,” Flick claimed. “Maybe after the next international break. We'll see.”
Barcelona injury list - key players missing v Newcastle United
Gavi is among several key absences, with midfielder Frenkie de Jong and defenders Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde all ruled out through injury.
And neither of those players are expected to return in time for next Wednesday’s second leg at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona is the biggest game in NUFC’s history - Eddie Howe
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has labelled the Barcelona game as the the biggest in the club’s history.
Speaking after Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester City, Howe said: “I think they're obviously long-term questions, my focus is really short-term and it's trying to win the game that's in front of me and that's Barcelona in the Champions League.
“I think we have to be, as much as it's easy to be very negative in this moment, I understand we've gone out of the FA Cup but we have the biggest game in the club's history coming up in no time at all.
“We've got to get the players ready for that, we've got no time to dwell on this.”
Asked to clarify his statement, Howe replied: “Well, we've never been in this position in the Champions League before and it's the best competition there is, so, for obvious reasons, I think it's a massive game in our history.
“We need to approach it that way. We need the supporters to think that way, and we need to try and find some energy from somewhere that will elevate our performance to a level that we've not seen before this season, because I think that's the only way that we'll get through it.”
Continue Reading