Barcelona's Last-16 Draw: PSG or Newcastle Await Flick's Side in the Champions League
Barcelona avoided the Champions League playoff but face a tough last-16 draw on 27 February — either PSG or Newcastle stand in their way.
Barcelona are through to the Champions League last 16 as one of the top eight sides from the league phase, and now they’re sitting tight waiting to find out who they’ll face — and it’s a proper 50/50.
The Setup
Hansi Flick’s side finished fifth in the league phase standings, which means they’ve earned a direct spot in the round of 16 without having to slog through the playoff round. Lovely, that. No extra legs, no extra risk. The draw takes place on 27 February in Nyon, and because of where Barça land in the bracket, their opponent will come from one specific playoff tie.
Who Could They Face?
It’s simple enough: PSG or Newcastle. One of those two will be waiting for Barça in the last 16, and both come with a fair bit of previous.
- PSG beat Barcelona at Montjuïc earlier in the competition (1-2), so Luis Enrique’s mob already have one over on their former boss’s old club. That storyline basically writes itself.
- Newcastle, meanwhile, lost at St James’ Park to Barça by that same 1-2 scoreline, so the Magpies will fancy they’ve got a point to prove.
Either way, Barcelona aren’t getting an easy ride.
Why It Matters
The PSG angle is obviously the one everyone’s going to be talking about — Luis Enrique going up against the club he managed, in a Champions League knockout tie. The sort of fixture that gets the juices flowing before a ball’s even been kicked.
But don’t sleep on Newcastle either. Eddie Howe’s side bring a physicality and intensity that could cause Barça real problems over two legs. The Geordies aren’t exactly a soft touch these days, and their crowd at St James’ is one of the most electric atmospheres in European football right now.
The Bigger Picture
For Flick, the priority was always avoiding the playoff and keeping the squad fresh. Job done on that front. But the reward is hardly a gentle introduction to the knockout rounds — whichever side comes through, Barcelona will need to be at it from the first whistle.
The draw on the 27th will settle it, but either outcome sets up a genuinely tasty tie. Proper Champions League football, that.