Newcastle star not phased about Barcelona clash – Tough Champions League games a reward

Newcastle United defender Fabian Schär has insisted they won’t back down to Barcelona, and the fixture is a reward for their performances last season.

Blick have an interview with the Newcastle star today in which he insists they aren’t looking negatively on their tough upcoming Champions League campaign.

Eddie Howe’s side kick off their Champions League, league phase tonight hosting last year’s semi-finalists Barcelona at St James Park.

The Catalans were one of the most exciting teams in the competition last season and many people’s favourites to win the competition before a stunning defeat at the hand of Inter Milan, who were soundly beaten by PSG in the final.

Newcastle will be facing them away from home on matchday eight, as well as taking on the likes of Benfica, Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen as they look to make it to the knockout stages after failing to make it out of the group stage in the 2023/24 campaign.

Some would lament such a set of fixtures, but Schär isn’t one of them, instead insisting that he can’t wait to hear the Champions League anthem once again.

“Barcelona is one of the best teams in Europe. Barça is one of those teams that can win the competition,” he said.

“We’ve already proven many times that it’s not easy to play against us at home. Qualifying for the Champions League in the Premier League is an incredibly difficult undertaking. To have managed to do it again with Newcastle is a highlight of my career.

“(The fixtures are) a reward for last season, in which we invested so much. I’m really looking forward to hearing the famous anthem again.”