Barcelona news

We’ve got three Newcastle United vs Barcelona predictions for this Champions League round-of-16 first-leg encounter on Tuesday, 10 March.

GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has delivered a stinging assessment of Xavi Hernandez’s tenure, suggesting the legendary midfielder lacked the winning touch that successor Hansi Flick has already brought to Catalunya. Following an explosive interview where Xavi blamed the hierarchy for various failures, Laporta used a presidential debate to set the record straight on why he opted for a change in the dugout.

Barcelona talisman Robert Lewandowski has lifted the lid on the drastic lifestyle changes that have allowed him to remain one of the world's most feared strikers at the age of 37. The Polish international, who has scored close to 400 league goals across Europe’s top-five divisions, revealed that he had to cut out sweet treats and specific food groups to maintain his physical edge.

In an explosive tell-all interview, former Barcelona manager Xavi has revealed how the club’s hierarchy apparently blocked his attempts to sign current Arsenal midfield anchor Martin Zubimendi. The legendary Spaniard, who was sacked in 2024, identified the then-Real Sociedad star as the perfect replacement for Sergio Busquets, only to seemingly see his request flatly rejected by the board during a period of intense financial scrutiny at the Catalan giants.

Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has claimed that a Wrexham match he recently attended was the finest spectacle he has witnessed since hanging up his boots. While the football world was gripped by Inter's extraordinary 7-6 aggregate victory over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals last year, Rooney suggested that the atmosphere and drama surrounding the Welsh club's FA Cup defeat to Chelsea topped the lot.

Eddie Howe has turned up the heat ahead of Newcastle United's monumental Champions League last-16 first leg against Barcelona, describing it as the "biggest game in the club’s history". Following a disappointing FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester City, the Magpies boss is determined to ensure his squad does not dwell on domestic setbacks with the eyes of the footballing world turning to St. James' Park on Tuesday.

Xavier Vilajoana made headlines during his failed bid to become Barcelona's new president by claiming to have already made "some contact" with Bayern Munich superstar Harry Kane over a move to Camp Nou. In reality, though, the most interesting topic the industrial engineer raised while on the campaign trail centered around another Englishman in Marcus Rashford.

Barcelona’s superstars have swapped the sunshine of Catalonia for the historic charm of Northumberland, and it seems they have found themselves in a wizarding wonderland. Ahead of their massive Champions League last-16 first-leg tie against Newcastle United, Hansi Flick’s squad checked into Matfen Hall, a stunning 200-year-old mansion that left the players convinced they had accidentally boarded the Hogwarts Express rather than a private jet.

Kylian Mbappe's European Golden shoe defence is being challenged by the likes of Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.