Magpies have played more games than any other team in Europe so far but the manager believes the moment calls for an extraordinary effort
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has described the club’s upcoming Champions League tie against Barcelona as “the biggest game in the club’s history”.
The Magpies will host the Catalan club at St James’ Park for the first leg of their last-16 encounter, just days after their FA Cup campaign ended with defeat to Manchester City.
Newcastle lost to City for the fourth time in a row this season after Savinho and Omar Marmoush scored three goals to overturn their early lead and dump them out of the competition. Rather than dwelling on that setback Howe wants his squad to turn their focus to their decorated opponents in Europe.
“It’s easy to be negative at the moment,” said Howe. “I understand we’ve gone out of the FA Cup but we have the biggest game in the club’s history coming up and we’ve got to approach it that way.
“We’ve never been in this position [last 16] in the Champions League before and it’s the best competition there is. We have got to get the players ready for that and we’ve no time to dwell on this.”
POV: You’re staying in a castle in Newcastle. pic.twitter.com/DbZDiegVBf
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 9, 2026
Preparations at Newcastle’s Darsley Park training base have matched the level of the tie but there has to be caution. Howe’s squad have had a demanding schedule this season.
The Magpies have played continuously since November without a free week. No team in Europe has played more than their 46 games so far this term. The physical strain has tested the depth of the team, but the manager believes the moment calls for an extraordinary effort.
“We need to try and find some energy from somewhere that will elevate our performance to a level we’ve not seen this season,” Howe said. “That’s the only way we’ll get through.”
Barcelona themselves arrive in uncertain form. After losing two games in a row, they have won their last four, although the last of those was a laboured 1-0 victory over Athletic Club.
La Blaugrana defeated Newcastle in the league phase of the Champions League earlier in September, but Hansi Flick’s side were impressed by the physicality of the English team and the Barcelona manager believes the knockout stage will bring an even bigger challenge.
Barcelona’s last visit to England ended badly when they suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Chelsea. Newcastle will hope to recreate a similar outcome and secure a result that supporters would remember for years to come.
