All set now to start the 25/26 Champions League. Barça are back in Newcastle for the first time in over 20 years for the first European night of the season. However, there was a long day to get through beforehand, with travelling, press conferences, plus training at the venue where the first three points of the group phase are at stake.

New stage for many

Every player in Hansi Flick's squad trained at St James' Park, the home of Newcastle United, with the stadium new to the vast majority of them. Beyond Ferran, Rashford and Raphinha, who have scored 11 goals against the Magpies between them, even some at the same stadium, plus players who have competed in the Premier League in Christensen, Szczesny and Eric Garcia, most of the squad were setting foot inside in it for the first time.

The match will likely be very different to the training session in the empty stadium, as the atmosphere generated during games is one of the loudest in all of English football. However, this Barça side don't fear anything, they are more than ready in the knowledge that Newcastle is en route to Budapest for the final.

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