Ketsbaia’s Kick-Off Klub
This is the third chapter in our Champions League preview series, and now the focus shifts to Newcastle United’s Pot 3 opponents, Marseille and PSV Eindhoven.
David Hopkinson represents a chance to end the drift, to bring Newcastle United into line with the best-run clubs in Europe. Whether he succeeds isn’t down to him alone – it’s down to whether PIF finally empower the people they’ve appointed.
For supporters, international breaks can feel like an untimely interruption, but they’re also a reminder of just how far Newcastle United’s reach now stretches. From Kinshasa to Cologne, Copenhagen to Rio, the black-and-white is being represented all over the map this September.
This is the second instalment in our Champions League preview series, and attention now turns to Newcastle United’s Pot 2 opponents. While the glamour ties against Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain will inevitably capture headlines, it is often these middle-tier fixtures that shape a campaign. The Magpies’ encounters with Benfica at St James’ Park in October and Bayer Leverkusen in Germany in December are the sort of matches that will go a long way in determining whether this European adventure extends into the knockout stages.
When Newcastle United ascended into Europe’s elite with qualification for the revamped 2025–26 UEFA Champions League, fans were desperate to see who they would get in the draw. Now revealed: eight fixtures spanning the continent, including two of the game’s most illustrious giants, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Newcastle United have sealed the signing of Yoane Wissa from Brentford in a deal worth around £55 million, with £50m paid upfront and a further £5m tied to performance-based add-ons.
Liverpool have agreed a British record transfer fee of £125 million to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, bringing to an end the most drawn-out transfer saga of the summer. The 25-year-old striker has signed a six-year deal at Anfield, with the Swede also giving up a £5 million loyalty bonus owed by Newcastle to smooth the move through.
Newcastle trudged away from Elland Road with a point after a drab 0-0 draw against Leeds United. On a night of torrential rain, the conditions reflected the mood: flat, frustrating, and devoid of inspiration.
Elland Road always brings noise, but Saturday evening feels extra charged. Leeds are back in the Premier League after two seasons away, and they face a Newcastle side trying to steady themselves after late heartbreak against Liverpool.
Leeds United’s return to the Premier League this season has been marked by urgency and ambition. After a short spell in the Championship, the club has wasted no time in reshaping its squad to meet the demands of top-flight football. Ten new signings have arrived, each contributing to a clear identity: physicality, experience, and a more robust tactical structure.
Newcastle United travel to Leeds for the Saturday evening kick off, so let’s look at what they will be facing.