The Champions League is back, and excitement is already building ahead of Newcastle’s opener against Barcelona.
But for fans at St James’ Park who were hoping to see teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal in action, there’s some disappointing news—he won’t be part of the squad.
At just 18, Yamal has become one of Europe’s most talked-about young talents, yet a stubborn groin injury has kept him sidelined.
While his absence is a blow for Barcelona, it certainly eases the challenge for Eddie Howe and his men.
Injury Concerns After International Duty
Yamal’s troubles began during the international break, where he played heavily for Spain despite already carrying pain.
The youngster featured for 79 minutes against Bulgaria and another 73 minutes against Turkey.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick didn’t hold back in criticizing the Spanish federation for overusing his starlet.
He pointed out that Yamal required painkillers just to play and hardly trained in between matches.
“They were three goals up in every game, yet he still played nearly the full match,” Flick said with frustration.
“Spain has world-class players in every position, so I really can’t understand why they pushed him like this. It’s not taking care of players.”
A Historic Night Awaits on Tyneside
Despite Yamal’s absence, Thursday night promises to be electric.
This will be Newcastle’s first Champions League appearance since their early exit in the group stage years ago, but their current squad looks far more prepared to compete on multiple fronts.
The game also carries a bit of history. It marks the fifth competitive clash between the two clubs and the first since 2003.
ans will remember the unforgettable night in 1997 when Faustino Asprilla stunned Barcelona with a hat-trick in a 3-2 thriller.
Both Teams Dealing With Injuries
Barcelona won’t just be missing Yamal. Defender Alejandro Balde and midfield star Gavi are also unavailable due to injuries, leaving Flick with a few big holes in his squad.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have their own problems.
Eddie Howe will be without Yoan Wissa and Jacob Ramsey, both key figures in his setup.
Another Memorable Clash on the Horizon
Even without some of the brightest young names, the matchup promises to be intense.
Barcelona arrive with attacking flair, while Newcastle will look to feed off the energy of their home crowd.
If history has taught us anything, meetings between these two sides rarely disappoint—so fans at St James’ Park could still be in for something special.