Newcastle is one of the six Premier League teams participating in this round of the most prestigious tournament in Europe. They will be a barrier preventing Barca on their way to the quarter-finals next month.
The match taking place at St. James' Park this week will be the second encounter between the two teams in the Champions League this season, after Barca won 2-1 against Newcastle in the group stage in September 2025.
The second leg will take place on March 18 at Spotify Camp Nou.
The Premier League is a great league, to me it is the best league in the world. They have strong teams and also have a lot of money to make the right decisions. That's why you see six English teams in this round.
But we are also as strong as the English teams. Therefore, the whole team must play in our own style and prove it to the whole world," Hansi Flick said.
Newcastle is not in top form in the Premier League. They have lost three of their last five matches in the Premier League, dropped to 12th place in the standings, and were eliminated from the FA Cup by Man City last weekend.
However, Flick is aware of the threat they will pose, especially with the enthusiastic cheers from home fans.
The Champions League is different from the domestic league. In this stage, everyone wants to show their best form. We will find a great atmosphere here. Fans will cheer for them, they will press high, mark closely and play a fierce match.
We have to play bravely from the back line. It won't be easy. Barca has to find a solution. Newcastle is a team in a period of transformation with very fast, good and excellent players. We have to handle and control the situation," Hansi Flick added when asked about Newcastle's unstable form.
Barca will be without injured players Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde, Andreas Christensen, Gavi and Frenkie de Jong, but coach Flick confirmed that midfielder Marc Bernal has recovered from a stomach injury and is ready to play.
Marcus Rashford, who scored both goals when Barca defeated Newcastle in September 2025, may also be in Flick's plan after making his first start in a month in the 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao recently.
The developments before Barca's match in England were influenced by the controversy between Flick's predecessor, Xavi Hernandez, and president Joan Laporta, in the context of the team's presidential election, when club members would vote to choose Laporta or Victor Font.
Flick affirmed that internal club political issues will not affect the players' preparation process.
“This is one of the most important weeks of the season. We have to focus on the matches. We all have the same goal. We have built a team for the future.
We want everything to run smoothly and be 100% dedicated. I respect Newcastle very much, and we have to focus tomorrow. We trust the players. This is one of the most important moments of the season," Hansi Flick concluded.
The Newcastle vs Barcelona match will take place at 3:00 AM on March 11.
