Barcelona set to make key change for Newcastle clash? - Early teams news from Spain

Hansi Flick is looking to change things up with his Barcelona side as Newcastle United come to spoil their Champions League party.

Newcastle have already given Barcelona plenty to think about after their dominant display at St James' Park last week.

Were it not for a late, late penalty, Newcastle would have picked up one of the wins of the season against the Catalan giants. Such is Newcastle's luck this season.

However, we certainly can't complain about the performance overall and how Newcastle looked going up against one of the Champions League's most established sides.

Barca set for defensive change?

According to reports in Spain, Barca boss Hansi Flick look set to make a change to his back line for tomorrow's clash with Newcastle at the Nou Camp.

This comes from SPORT, who claim that Eric Garcia is expected to start on Wednesday, replacing Ronald Araujo at right-back, with Jules Kounde still out through injury.

Araujo started in the back four for Barca last week, but didn't always look comfortably as a big centre-back playing at right-back.

SPORT also believe that Flick is not keen on throwing 18-year-old Xavi Espart into such a big game despite making his debut against the Magpies last week, meaning a fit-again Garcia is likely to get the nod up against Harvey Barnes.

Fit-again Gordon to hurt Barca back line?

It sounds as if Hansi Flick isn't best pleased with his defence going into this game, which can only be good news for Newcastle, who will have Anthony Gordon back in the starting lineup.

After missing out last week, we expect that Gordon will be very hungry ahead of this one, and will also have the added incentive of making a point to Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer, who were critical of our No 10 last week despite him clearly missing out through illness.

Gordon showed his class in Saturday's 1-0 win at Chelsea and will be raring to go in this one, with his pace, movement and energy having the potential to hurt an injury-hit Barcelona defence.

It's going to be a huge test against a Barca side who've won 21 of their last 23 at home, but with pace in our attack and a defence that's just kept a superb clean sheet at Chelsea, who knows what we might be able to achieve against a side missing both starting full-backs and Frenkie De Jong.