Newcastle United is preparing for a significant match against Barcelona in their Champions League campaign, which kicks off on September 18, 2024, at St. James’ Park. This marks Newcastle’s return to the prestigious tournament after a one-year absence. The team narrowly missed advancing past the group stage two seasons ago, competing against Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, and AC Milan in the 2022-23 season. This year, they will face at least eight different teams due to the tournament’s reformatting.
The clash against Barcelona has taken on added significance with the potential absence of key midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The captain of the Catalan side has reportedly sustained a muscle injury that raises doubts about his availability for the Tyneside fixture. An official statement from FC Barcelona confirmed that de Jong has suffered a slight injury to the external obturator muscle in his right leg, stating, “His recovery will determine his availability.”
This injury news comes at a crucial time for both teams. Newcastle could also be without their own midfield star, Joelinton, who is recovering from a hip injury sustained during a 3-2 defeat against Liverpool last month. Newcastle has taken proactive steps to strengthen their squad by signing several players this summer, including Nick Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, and Malick Thiaw.
The absence of de Jong would be a significant blow for Barcelona, as he played a pivotal role in their Champions League campaign last season. He captained the team throughout the semi-finals against Inter Milan, featuring in every minute of the two-legged tie, which ended in a dramatic extra-time defeat. Over the past season, de Jong participated in 13 of Barcelona’s 14 Champions League matches and appeared 26 times in La Liga.
As for Newcastle, they will not have to contend with Alexander Isak, who has transferred to Liverpool for a British record fee, further shifting the dynamics of the match. The stakes are high for both clubs as they aim to start their Champions League journeys on a positive note.
With the absence of key players and the significance of the match, the upcoming fixture promises to be an exciting encounter that could set the tone for Newcastle’s campaign. As the team gears up for their first game back in the Champions League, fans will be watching closely to see how these developments unfold.
