The Champions League is back! While 16 other teams were have been battling it out over the last month to stay in the competition, FC Barcelona were one of the fortunate few who had already got the job done and sealed their place in the last sixteen.

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And as fate would have it, the Catalans have been drawn against a side that they have already met once before in this edition. Things worked out very nicely the last time they faced Newcastle United, and hopefully Tuesday (9pm CET) will bring a similar result to take some of the pressure off when the sides meet in the decisive second leg at Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday week.

How they got here

They needed to beat Copenhagen 4-1 on the final day of the League Phase to make sure of it, but Barça eventually finished fifth, comfortably inside the top eight. There had been doubts that they would avoid the playoffs after losing to PSG and Chelsea and drawing at Club Brugge. They needed three wins in their final three games, and that's exactly what they got!

After losing at home to Barça in their opening fixture, Newcastle only lost one of their next seven games (away to Marseille), but it wasn't enough to avoid the playoffs. But they made light work of the task, storming to a 6-1 win away to Qarabağ, meaning qualification was already virtually assured before the second leg had kicked off. They won that too, 3-2.

What they're saying

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, the man who guided lowly Bournemouth to the dizzy heights of the Premier League, described this game as "one of the biggest in our recent history." If anything, that's an understatement. It's the first time the team has ever played a knockout tie in Europe's premier club competition.

There have been high hopes at the club since money arrived from Saudi Arabia in 2021, and last season's EFL Cup was its first major trophy in over half a century. Now they want more. It is Barça's job to make sure they don't get it.

It's important for Newcastle, but it's also important for Barça. "It's one of the most important moments of the season" said Hansi Flick on Monday. "We will find a great atmosphere against a very intense team who are quick on the break and strong at the back. We will have to defend really well."

"The Champions League is different and everybody wants to show what they can do. They will press us high up the pitch and we will have to be brave and have confidence."

Head to head

The obvious reference between these two sides is that game on the opening day of the competition. The Magpies put Barça under severe pressure in the first half, but were unable to turn their chances into goals. In the second half, an outstanding Marcus Rashford scored two goals against his countrymen, with Anthony Gordon pulling a late goal back for the Geordies.

Barça took the three points, but it was the kind of game that could have easily gone either way. Newcastle are very clearly not a team to be taken lightly.

newcastle v barça: did you know?

Going much further back in history, the first time the teams met in this competition was in the group stage in 1997, and things didn't turn out quite so well. Faustino Asprilla's hat trick helped Newcastle to 3-2 victory on Tyneside, and such misery followed that although Barça won the return at Camp Nou 1-0, it still wouldn't save them from finishing bottom of the group.

Things ended much happier in 2003, also in the group stage, when Barça won both at home and away. So, in total, in five previous UCL meetings, Barça have won four and Newcastle just one. And that was over a quarter of a century ago.

Form guide

We all know what wonderful form Barça are in. The season has not come without a few nasty slips, including two defeats in Europe and elimination from the Copa del Rey. But thanks to the 1-0 defeat of Athletic Club on Saturday, the blaugranes are four points clear at the top of the league table, having won 15 of their last 17 games.

Things haven't being going quite so well for their opponents. After a troubled start, the results slowly started improving and by January Newcastle had managed to climb as high as fifth in possibly the toughest domestic championship in the world right now. But they have slumped back down to mid-table following five defeats in seven games, including losses at home to Aston Villa, Brentford and Everton.

A 2-1 victory over Manchester United last Wednesday cheered up the Toon Army, but at the weekend they suffered yet another home defeat, this time to Manchester City, 3-1 in the FA Cup.

Men to watch

Newcastle United are a side with many strengths, starting with Nick Pope, one of the finest goalkeepers in England. The defence includes Kieran Trippier, back in his home country after a stint at Atlético Madrid and always a threat from set pieces, along with the towering Dan Burn and Dutch centre back Sven Botman.

Newcastle will suffer without the creative engine in midfield, Bruno Guimarães. The Brazilian is injured for this one, but his countryman Joelinton, a powerful box-to-box midfielder, is another name who Barça are going to need to keep a special eye on. Not to mention Harvey Barnes, a dynamic winger who makes a huge contribution to Newcastle's high-tempo pressing style.

And then there's Anthony Gordon, the team's highest goalscorer (including an astonishing four against Qarabağ), who is second only to Kylian Mbappé for goals in this season's Champions League. The England international's speed and ability to attack spaces is just the kind of thing that Barça have sometimes struggled to deal with this season. The other big danger going forward is Germany's Nick Woltemade, a player who very much come into his own this season.

Team news

Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen are all out injured for Barça, and they're all important losses, but Newcastle are facing similar troubles in the injury department.

Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento are both back in action following recoveries from thigh problems, but as well as the major loss of Guimaraes, the home side will all have to make do without the services of Emil Krafth, Lewis Miley and Fabian Schar.

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