Barcelona will play their inaugural Champions League league phase match at St James’ Park on Thursday, according to the most recent news from Newcastle United.
Hansi Flick will be in the dugout at St James’ Park, providing Barcelona with a significant advantage in their upcoming match against Newcastle United on Thursday. On Thursday evening, Barcelona will face Newcastle United in their inaugural league phase match at a sold-out St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe’s team will enter the match against the reigning Spanish champions with confidence that they can defy the odds and secure a memorable victory on Tyneside, following their first win of the season against Wolves at St James’ Park on Saturday. Nevertheless, they will be hindered by the absence of new recruits Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey, who were ruled out of action due to injuries.
Ramsey sustained an ankle injury prior to the international break, while Wissa sustained a knee injury while traveling with DR Congo during the break. Nick Woltemade, who scored his inaugural goal for the Magpies at the weekend, is expected to serve as the team’s captain against the Catalan titans.
After the UEFA U-Turn, Barcelona receives a substantial benefit.
Barcelona has received a significant boost just days before their voyage to the northeast of England, as UEFA has lifted Hansi Flick’s touchline ban. The German was issued a suspension by UEFA after the governing body accused him of “misconduct” in the aftermath of his team’s loss to Inter Milan in the semi-finals of the previous season.
UEFA imposed a one-match suspension on Flick and his assistant, Marcus Sorg, in addition to fines of €20,000 each. Barcelona’s successful appeal resulted in the lifting of the sanctions, which would have prevented them from participating in the game on Thursday night.
Mundo Deportivo has reported that Flick and Sorg will be permitted to be on the touchline on Thursday, as their one-match suspension has been suspended for one year. The ban will be inflicted and Sorg and Flick will be compelled to miss a game if they commit any additional violations.
In contrast, Newcastle United have no suspension concerns to address on Thursday. Anthony Gordon will be permitted to participate in the contest after serving two games of a three-match domestic ban.
The anticipated match on Thursday occurs 28 years and one day following Newcastle United’s historic 3-2 victory over Barcelona in 1997. Kenny Dalglish’s team was three goals ahead on that particular day, thanks to a Tino Asprilla hat-trick. However, a late Barcelona comeback threatened to spoil one of the most memorable European evenings on Tyneside.
In reality, this week’s match will mark the fifth time that these two teams have met in the Champions League. Although numerous Newcastle supporters will cherish their encounters with Barcelona, the Spanish team has emerged victorious in their previous encounters.
With the exception of the aforementioned 3-2 encounter at St James’ Park in 1997, Barcelona has emerged victorious in all three of their other meetings. Although the most recent of those encounters occurred over 22 years ago, Barcelona secured a 2-0 victory at St James’ Park on 19 March 2003, thanks to goals from Thiago Motta and Patrick Kluivert, who would later become a striker for the Magpies.
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