Newcastle will enter their Champions League round of 16 clash against Barcelona without captain Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian midfielder suffered a right hamstring injury in the Premier League match against Tottenham and will be unavailable for both matches. Guimaraes has been a key player this season, contributing nine goals and seven assists, and is currently recovering in Brazil.
The team also faces defensive issues, with several injury absences including Fabian Schär, Emil Krafth, and Tino Livramento. However, Jacob Ramsey is expected to recover and be available. In midfield, with Guimaraes out, a likely lineup includes Sandro Tonali, Joëlinton, and Joe Willock, supported by attacking midfielder Nick Woltemade.
Despite inconsistent Premier League form—11th place at the moment—Newcastle has been prolific in the Champions League, scoring 28 goals so far, equal with PSG as the highest-scoring teams in this edition. Their decisive 9-3 aggregate victory over Qarabag boosted their confidence heading into the Barcelona tie.
For Barcelona, Newcastle’s attacking firepower is a major concern. The visitors will aim to exploit Barcelona’s defensive vulnerabilities. Though missing their midfield leader, Newcastle’s offensive strength suggests a challenging and high-scoring encounter is coming in the round of 16.
