Our next opponents: 'Big Nick' delighting the Magpies' fans

Position

Newcastle United have recorded three wins and two defeats so far in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. With nine points, the Magpies - as the team are known because of their black and white shirts - are in 11th place going into Matchday 6. The club from the north-east of England, who signed two Germany internationals in Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw in the summer, started with a 2-1 home defeat to Barcelona and then recorded three consecutive wins at Union Saint-Gilloise (4-0) and at home against Benfica (3-0) and Athletic Bilbao (2-0). On Matchday 5, despite taking the lead, Newcastle lost 2-1 at Olympique Marseille.

The team, who finished fifth in the Premier League last year are not quite back on track yet. However, after six wins, four draws and five defeats, coach Eddie Howe's side are now sitting in the upper reaches of the middle of the table and are just a few points off the European spots. Newcastle were extremely unfortunate in the top matches against Liverpool and Arsenal in particular. On both occasions, the hosts suffered knockout blows in stoppage time at the venerable St. James' Park, which led to a 3-2 defeat against Florian Wirtz and Co. and a crucial 2-1 loss against the Gunners. Howe's side, on the other hand, recorded a prestigious win against Manchester City in front of their home crowd. Harvey Barnes was the match-winner with his brace in the 2-1 victory.

Last week, Newcastle played two more home games in the space of four days. Firstly, they drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur despite twice taking the lead, with Spurs scoring the final goal in stoppage time. Yet another last-minute goal that cost them points. Last weekend, Woltemade and Co. won 2-1 against second-bottom outfit Burnley. Bruno Guimaraes had given the hosts the lead on the half-hour mark with a magnificent goal straight from a corner. Just before the break, the visitors were reduced to ten men after being shown a red card and the Magpies capitalised on their superior numbers before the half-time whistle, with Anthony Gordon scoring from the penalty spot to make it 2-0. In the second half, the best Burnley could do was pull one back in stoppage time, also from the penalty spot. Newcastle are now unbeaten in eight consecutive competitive games at St James' Park and four games in the Premier League.

Personnel

Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw are regularly making positive headlines at the Premier League club. Defender Thiaw joined from AC Milan last summer. The former Schalke player is full of praise for his new employer: "I have to say, the club reminds me a bit of S04. The city is just as crazy about football as Gelsenkirchen. Everyone is passionate about the club. The stadium is sold out every game." Thiaw sported the Royal Blues jersey for seven years until 2022 before moving to Milan. He's now a Magpie who is highly regarded by coaches and fans, and not just for his defensive qualities. Thiaw is also strong in attack; the 24-year-old Düsseldorf native recently bagged a brace in the 4-1 win against Everton - as a centre-back.

Nick Woltemade also scored in that game with a technically demanding lob - his fifth goal in the Premier League. Woltemade, who started in the youth set-up at SV Werder Bremen and spent a year at VfB Stuttgart until the end of last season, is also feeling right at home at Newcastle. ‘Big Nick’ enjoyed a dream debut for his new club and bagged the Magpies' first win of the season with his crucial winner in the 1-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Matchday 4. The 1.98-metre centre-forward has scored seven times in 18 competitive appearances for Newcastle to date.

Coach Eddie Howe will be without full-back Kieran Trippier and possibly centre-back Sven Botman on Wednesday. Both were recently sidelined with thigh problems. Former England keeper Aaron Ramsdale, who is currently on loan from Southampton, has played in goal for the Magpies in their last three competitive matches. In the Champions League games so far, however, Nick Pope has always been deployed. In addition to Malick Thiaw, current England internationals Dan Burn and Tino Livramento as well as ex-Hoffenheim player Fabian Schär are among the regular starters in defence. The latter has been with the Magpies since 2018, making him the longest-serving player in the current squad.

Another former Hoffenheim player has also been at Newcastle for six years and is a key player: Brazilian Joelinton has now made 240 competitive appearances for the Magpies and pulls the strings in central midfield. The goal threat is provided by his compatriot Bruno Guimaraes, while Sandro Tonali and Lewis Miley are also among the first-choice players in the centre of midfield. In attack, Woltemade and the two left wingers Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon are particularly dangerous , with the latter also at times deployed as a centre-forward. Right winger Anthony Elanga, a new signing from Nottingham Forest, has yet to get on the scoresheet in 21 appearances.

Problems

As powerful as Newcastle are at home at St James' Park, the team are vulnerable away from home, especially when their opponents quickly counter-attack. In the Premier League, the Magpies achieved their first and so far only away win of the season - a 4-1 at Everton at the end of November. Prior to that, they'd had lost three times in a row away from home and disappointed for long stretches in defeats against Brighton & Hove Albion (2-1), West Ham United (3-1) and Brentford (3-1). Newcastle have also won just one of five away games in the Champions League since returning to Europe's premier club competition in 2023/24 - a 4-0 rout of Union Saint-Gilloise on Matchday 2.

PERFORmeRS

High intensity, tremendous pace, strong physicality and energetic pressing characterise the football that Newcastle United coach Eddie Howe demands of his team in every game. The Werkself should prepare themselves for some robust tackling from the Magpies. Defensively, they've been extremely solid in the Champions League so far, winning three times to nil and conceding just four goals - only Arsenal (1) and Inter Milan (3) have conceded fewer.

However, the Northerners also have a lethal and outstanding front line. Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon have already scored four goals each in the current Champions League campaign. This makes Newcastle United the only team with two players who have bagged more than three goals. Nick Woltemade has also netted once in the top flight and is his side's joint top scorer in the Premier League with five goals alongside Bruno Guimaraes.