Who could Newcastle face in their 2025/26 Champions League campaign?

After a thrilling domestic season, Newcastle United have secured their place in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League through the prestigious European Performance Spot, awarded to England for having one of the top two association coefficients in Europe. This marks a significant achievement for Eddie Howe’s side, who are set to return to Europe’s elite competition with high hopes and a passionate fanbase behind them.

Last season UEFA introduced a revamped Champions League format. Instead of the traditional group stage, all 36 teams competed in a single league phase, with each club playing eight matches against eight different opponents—two from each of four seeding pots. Newcastle are expected to be placed in Pot 4, due to their relatively low UEFA coefficient compared to Europe’s elite. This means they are likely to face some of the continent’s biggest clubs from Pots 1 to 3.

Here’s a look at the kind of teams Newcastle could be drawn agains, and because the Premier League have more than four entries (six in total), it's possible due to deadlock that two teams from England, may have to face up to each other:

Pot 1 (Top Seeds)

• Real Madrid – The perennial European giants with biggest Champions League wins by a clear margin.

• Barcelona – The newly crowned La Liga champions, scoring 102 goals in the league.

• Bayern Munich – Bundesliga champions with a rich European pedigree.

• Paris Saint-Germain – A rematch of their famous 4-1 win at St James’ Park in 2023 could be on the cards, current finalists this campaign.

  
  
  
  

Pot 2

• Inter Milan – Serie A powerhouses with a strong recent European record, may move up a pot, should they win this season's Champions League.

• Arsenal – A potential all-English clash with high stakes. Four times the clubs faced each other this campaign in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup.

• Atletico Madrid – Known for their defensive resilience and tactical discipline.

• Borussia Dortmund – Newcastle know the Germans well, after losing twice against them in 2023/24 campaign.

  
  

Pot 3

• Benfica – Portuguese giants with a history of upsetting bigger clubs.

• Dynamo Kyiv – Always a tricky opponent, especially away from home.

• Celtic – A Battle of Britain clash would be a fan-favorite.

• PSV – Reclaimed the Eredivisie this season, with an attacking threat.

  
  

Pot 4 (Newcastle’s Pot)

Newcastle will avoid other Pot 4 teams, but this pot could include clubs like:

• Athletic Club (Spain)

• Frankfurt (Germany)

• Monaco (France)

• Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)

  
  
  
  

With four home and four away matches, Newcastle fans can look forward to some electric European nights at St James’ Park. The new format guarantees variety and drama, and while the Magpies will face tough opposition, their performances in recent seasons suggest they are more than capable of springing surprises.

Newcastle United’s return to the Champions League promises to be one of the most exciting storylines of the 2025/26 season. With the potential to face European heavyweights and rekindle old rivalries, the Magpies are set for a campaign that could define a new era in their history.