Newcastle vs Barcelona: Can either side gain the upper hand in the first leg?
On Tuesday, March 10, Newcastle will face Barcelona in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. The match kicks off at 21:00 CET, and I suggest a bet on this fixture.
Newcastle vs Barcelona: Match facts and head-to-head
- Newcastle have lost three of their last five matches.
- Barcelona have won their last four matches.
- Barcelona have scored at least one goal in five consecutive matches.
- Newcastle have scored at least once in 17 straight matches.
- Newcastle have failed to keep a clean sheet in 13 consecutive matches.
- Barcelona have lost two of their last three away games.
- Barcelona have won 35% of their matches with a clean sheet.
- Only 5% of Barcelona’s matches this season have ended in defeat without them scoring, while Newcastle have done so in 9% of their games.
- In 53% of their matches this season, Barcelona have scored in both halves.
- Barcelona defeated Newcastle 2–1 in their previous meeting.
- Barcelona have won four of the five head-to-head matches.
Newcastle vs Barcelona: Match preview
Newcastle performed quite well in the league phase, collecting 14 points from eight rounds. The team advanced to the playoffs, but that was not enough to secure direct qualification to the Champions League Round of 16. In the previous round, they faced Qarabag. They delivered an impressive performance, winning the first leg 6–1 and then securing a 3–2 victory at home. Now they face Barcelona in the Round of 16. The Magpies have drawn Barcelona, a side they already faced this season and lost to 1–2.
Barcelona beat Newcastle 2–1 in the autumn and also impressed during the league phase. There were setbacks against Monaco (1–2) and Chelsea (0–3), but overall the run was successful. They collected 16 points from eight matches, finished fifth, and advanced directly to the Round of 16. At the moment, the Catalans sit top of the table and hold a four-point advantage over second place. In their previous match, they defeated Athletic Bilbao 1–0.
Probable lineups
- Newcastle United: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Willock, Tonali, Joelinton; Barnes, Wissa, Gordon
- Barcelona: J. Garcia; E. Garcia, Cubarsi, Martin, Cancelo; Pedri, Casado; Yamal, Lopez, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Prediction
We should see an intriguing contest between these two teams. Newcastle will certainly look to push for a victory and try to secure a positive result on home soil. My suggested bet is that both teams will score.
