Newcastle’s Champions League draw and path to final revealed

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The Independent

·27 February 2026

Newcastle’s Champions League draw and path to final revealed

Newcastle United will play Barcelona in the Champions League last-16 as the Magpies look forward to a blockbuster tie on their return to knockout European competition.

Four wins and two draws was not enough to ensure that Eddie Howe’s side finished in the top eight spots of the league phase table, and a battling 1-1 draw with PSG on the final matchday of the league phase meant both teams entered the play-off stage.

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But Newcastle cruised into the knockouts by thrashing Qarabag 6-1 away from home, with Anthony Gordon hitting a hat-trick, before finishing the job at St James’ Park to progress through 9-3 on aggregate.

And now Newcastle can look forward to a glamour trip to Barcelona for the first time since the 2002-03 season, having lost to the Spanish champions on the opening night of this season’s league phase. Marcus Rashford scored twice as Barcelona won 2-1 at St James’ Park in September.

Newcastle’s Champions League draw

Should they progress past Barcelona, Newcastle will face either Atletico Madrid or Tottenham in the quarter-finals. As Newcastle are the 12th seeds, having come through the play-offs, they will play their first leg at home and the second leg away in the last-16. That would also be the case in the quarter-finals, unless they are the higher seed.