Newcastle vs Barcelona tips and predictions: Geordies to strike a Toon as Barca come to town

Newcastle state of play

It’s been a tough start to the season for Newcastle having only picked up two points from their first three games. However, they managed to get their first win at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers. 

The 1-0 win is a nice confidence booster ahead of this game. It was also great for new signing Nick Woltemade who scored his first goal for his new team. The former Stuttgart forward couldn’t have done much more than score the winner in his first home game for Newcastle.

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Despite only winning one game out of four, Newcastle has the best defensive record in the Premier League. They have only allowed 2.02 expected goals against, including an agonising 2-3 loss to Liverpool.

Newcastle snuck into the Champions League by finishing fifth in the Premier League last season and will hope to go one better than their last appearance in 2023 when they failed to make it out of the group stage. 

Barcelona state of play

Barcelona are undefeated in the league after four games, and their only blemish was a draw away to Vallecano. They currently sit second in the league behind Real Madrid and are looking like a winning machine again.

Their style is very much we will score more than you and you can see that statistically from their first four league games. They have the highest expected goals for in La Liga with 10.32 over them in four games. That’s almost 3 points higher than the next team.

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Expected goals against is a worry for Barcelona though as in the first four league games they are a bottom half side. 

Barcelona got knocked out in the semi-finals last season losing 6-7 on aggregate to Inter Milan. They will be hoping to go one better and get to the final this year.

Key talking point: Will Lamine Yamal injury slow Barcelona down?

Losing a talent like Lamine Yamal is a blow to Barcelona for this game and manager Hansi Flick is not happy about it. "Spain gave him painkillers and even when they were winning, they made him play. "This is not taking care of the players. I'm very sad about this."

However, it shouldn’t impact Barcelona that much as they have a talented squad and showed this in their last league game. Thrashing Valencia 6-0 without Yamal, proves once again how much strength in depth they have. 

Raphinha and Lewandoski both came off the bench to score twice against Valencia and Fermin Lopez scored twice as well. They also have players like Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres who can get them goals.

FIRST’s top tip

Pick: Over 3.5 goals – 11/10 (Ladbrokes)

Newcastle are good defensively but up against a team like Barcelona it will be tough to keep them quiet. Also, in big games in front of their home crowd, Newcastle tend to have a more attacking thrust. 

The Liverpool league game is an example of that, with the Geordie faithful willing their team on, despite being down to 10 men, which can also leave them susceptible to Barcelona’s fluid attack.

Extra tips

Pick: Bruno Guimaraes to be booked anytime in the match - 3/1 (Highbet)

Pick: Kieran Trippier over 1.5 player fouls committed - 6/5 (7bet)

Team news

Anthony Gordon has been suspended in the Premier League but is available for this game and could come straight back into the side. 

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As for Barcelona, their wonderkid Lamine Yamal is crocked, alongside Marc Andre Ter-Stegen and midfield man Gavi. Alejandro Balde and Frenkie De Jong are doubts.

Newcastle vs Barcelona predicted line-ups

Newcastle: Pope, Livramento, Burn, Schar, Trippier, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Tonali, Gordon, Woltemade, Barnes (4-3-3)

Barcelona: J Garcia, Kounde, Garcia, Christensen, Martin, Pedri, Olmo, Lopez, Raphinha, Torres, Rashford (4-3-3)

Form guide (All competitions)

Newcastle – LLLDDLDLDW

Barcelona -  LWWWWWWWDW

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Odds correct at the time of writing.