Newcastle United vs. Barcelona Prediction, Odds & Expert Picks: Champions League Best Bets
With injuries hampering both teams, my Newcastle vs. Barcelona prediction favors a tight contest in the first Champions League game at St James' Park in almost two years.
Barcelona are still the +140 betting favorite heading into Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET fixture (Paramount+) despite the likely absence of superstar Lamine Yamal. Meanwhile Newcastle sit at +175 going into their opening game of the tournament’s 36-team league phase.
With Yamal missing, my Champions League best bets and soccer picks focus on another Barcelona star who’s expected to pick up the slack and produce for the visitors.
Also check out our Gary Pearson's Champions League AI predictions and best bets for the entire season, which have PSG and Real Madrid matching up in the final.
⚽ Newcastle United vs. Barcelona prediction
Soccer picks odds subject to change.
- Moneyline pick: Tie (+270 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐
- Against the spread pick: Newcastle +0.5 (-170 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Over/Under pick: Under 2.5 (+170 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
📝 Newcastle United vs. Barcelona best bet
⬇️ Under 2.5 goals (+170) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It could be a low-scoring affair at St James' Park when Newcastle welcome Barcelona to town. While Newcastle will like their chances of pulling off an upset over the depleted reigning Spanish champions, the Magpies have injury concerns of their own that could influence how Thursday’s game unfolds.
Summer signing Yoane Wissa was acquired for Champions League nights like this. But Newcastle could be without the Congolese forward for an extended period with a knee injury. Fellow summer signing Jacob Ramsey is also set to miss the game with an ankle issue.
The injury news is even more grim for Barcelona. Along with Lamine Yamal being ruled out for a second game in a row, Barcelona are also going to be without playmaker Gavi.
Such absences are enough to take some of the fun out of the game and result in the Under paying off. A winning $10 bet over at DraftKings profits $17.
💰 Best Newcastle United vs. Barcelona player prop bet
⬆️ Raphinha Over 2.5 shots (-150) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Expect an uptick in shot attempts for Raphinha, with Lamine Yamal set to miss Thursday’s Champions League clash. The Spanish winger is set to be sidelined after missing another game over the weekend with a groin injury.
Considering that Yamal was leading Barcelona with just over six shots per game before suffering the injury, Raphinha could be in line to do the heavy lifting against Newcastle United. Even with a healthy Yamal, Raphinha was averaging over three shots a game, so hitting the Over here is a real possibility.
The best odds of Raphinha - Barcelona’s top scorer with three goals in La Liga - are at bet365, which has set the line at -150. A winning $10 bet there nets a profit of $6.67.
📊 Newcastle United vs. Barcelona odds
Champions League odds update live in real time.
📈 Newcastle United vs. Barcelona betting odds analysis
Barcelona are the +125 to +140 betting favorite at the best sports betting sites heading into a game in which both teams won’t be at full strength. The line should stay the same, depending on injury news that might emerge before kickoff. However, Barcelona should have enough firepower to withstand Newcastle even if the English side were healthy.
🔢 Newcastle United vs. Barcelona results
Newcastle United vs. Barcelona history courtesy of 11v11.com.
| Date | Competition | Result | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 19, 2003 | Champions League | Newcastle 0-2 Barcelona | St James' Park (Newcastle upon Tyne, England) |
| Dec. 11, 2002 | Champions League | Barcelona 3-1 Newcastle | Camp Nou (Barcelona, Spain) |
| Nov. 26, 1997 | Champions League | Barcelona 1-0 Newcastle | Camp Nou (Barcelona, Spain) |
| Sept. 17, 1997 | Champions League | Newcastle 3-2 Barcelona | St James' Park (Newcastle upon Tyne, England) |
🚑 Newcastle United vs. Barcelona injury report
- Lamine Yamal, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde were left out of Barcelona’s squad for Thursday’s trip due to injuries.
- Newcastle will be without the injured duo of Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey.
📺 Newcastle United vs. Barcelona game info
- When: Thursday, Sept. 18
- Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET
- Where: St James' Park (Newcastle upon Tyne, England)
- How to watch: Paramount+
❓ Newcastle United vs. Barcelona FAQs
Who is favored to win Newcastle United vs. Barcelona?
Barcelona are favored to win at +140, while underdogs Newcastle sit at +175.
What is the spread for Newcastle United vs. Barcelona?
The spread is set for 0.5 for Barcelona.
What is the Over/Under for Newcastle United vs. Barcelona?
The total is set at 2.5 goals, with the Over at -220 and the Under at +170.
What are the best bets for Newcastle United vs. Barcelona?
Under 2.5 goals and Raphinha Over 2.5 shots are my best bets for Newcastle United vs. Barcelona.
When is the Newcastle United vs. Barcelona game?
Thursday’s Champions League game between Newcastle and Barcelona begins at 3 p.m. ET.
How do soccer odds work?
When betting on soccer, the spread shows how many goals the favorite needs to win by in order to cash the bet. For example, a favorite of -1.5 must win by 2 or more goals to cover the spread, while an underdog at +1.5 must win outright or lose by fewer than 1 goal to cover the spread.
Moneyline odds represent the payout for picking the outright winner (+200 means a $100 bet wins $200, while -200 means a $200 bet wins $100). Over/Unders let you wager on whether the combined total will be higher or lower than the set number.
You can determine the payouts and implied probabilities for any wager - or convert odds to different formats - with our odds converter.
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