Match Overview

The 4th round group stage match of the 2025/26 season between English club “Newcastle United” and Spanish side “Athletic Club” is scheduled for November 5th at St. James’ Park. This article provides a detailed preview, including prediction, betting insights, coefficients, and relevant statistics for the “Newcastle” vs “Athletic Club” fixture.

Newcastle United’s Champions League Journey

Current Tournament Performance

The English squad has encountered only one setback in their current Champions League campaign. In the opening round, they suffered a 1-2 home defeat against “Barcelona”. However, in their subsequent two fixtures, manager Eddie Howe’s team demonstrated strong performances, securing decisive victories. They first triumphed over “Union” with a 4-0 away win, followed by a commanding 3-0 home victory against “Benfica”. With a total of 6 points, Newcastle currently sits among the top-8 teams, although six other competitors are close behind with an identical points tally but a less favorable goal difference.

Recent European Statistics for Newcastle

• The club has failed to win in 5 of their last 7 matches in this tournament (recording 1 draw and 4 losses).
• Precisely two or three goals were scored in 5 of Newcastle’s last 6 Champions League encounters.
• The English team has maintained an unbeaten record in the first half of five consecutive matches in this European competition (securing 4 wins and 1 draw). 

Newcastle’s Probable Starting Lineup (4-4-2)

Nick Pope – Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Dan Burn – Bruno Guimarães, Lewis Miley, Joelinton – Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon, Nick Voltemade.

Injury Update for Newcastle

Key players missing due to injury include defender Valentino Livramento, midfielder Lewis Hall, and forward Yoane Wissa. 

Athletic Club’s European Campaign

Tournament Progress

The Basque team secured their inaugural victory in the current group stage during the previous round. Playing at home, they overcame a resilient “Qarabag” side with a 3-1 scoreline. Notably, the Caucasian team scored an early goal in the very first minute, but the Spanish squad quickly regrouped from the unexpected start. In their initial two tournament matches, Athletic faced significantly stronger opponents, resulting in defeats: a 0-2 loss at home to “Arsenal” and a 1-4 away loss to “Borussia Dortmund”. The Basque team currently occupies the 21st position in the overall tournament standings.

Athletic Club’s Key Performance Indicators

• No more than three goals were scored in 7 of Athletic Club’s last 9 matches in this European competition.
• The Spanish club has not achieved a win in 4 of their last 5 away Champions League matches (registering 1 draw and 3 losses).
• In their most recent five away matches in this tournament, the Basques consistently scored exactly 1 goal. 

Athletic Club’s Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Unai Simón – Yuri Berchiche, Aymeric Laporte, Dani Vivian, Andoni Gorosabel – Mikel Jauregizar, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta – Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet, Álex Berenguer – Gorka Guruzeta.

Athletic Club Injury List

Defenders Lekue and Unai Egiluz, midfielder Beñat Prados, and forwards Iñaki Williams and Maroan Sannadi are all unavailable due to injuries.

Match Official Details

Referee: Ivan Kružliak

Ivan Kružliak (Slovakia)

Referee’s Statistical Overview (2025/26 Season)

Matches officiated – 13 (International fixtures, 2025/26);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 62;

Average yellow cards per match – 4.8;

Red cards shown – 0;

Average fouls per match – 25;

Penalties awarded – 31%.

Newcastle United vs Athletic Club Match Prediction

Offensive Strength and Performance

Both competing teams possess limited experience in the main stage of the . Nevertheless, each side is determined to secure a spot among the top 24 contenders. To achieve this, a strong offensive display is crucial. Newcastle has certainly demonstrated this, having scored in all five of their previous matches in this European competition. It’s worth noting that only five clubs have netted more goals than Newcastle in the current group stage.

Goal-Scoring Prospects for Both Sides

For the home team, impactful goals are anticipated from Anthony Gordon, who has made history as the first Newcastle player to score in three consecutive Champions League group stage matches. We also expect to see the visitors find the net, considering they’ve only failed to score against Arsenal in their last five European outings. Furthermore, both teams have shown vulnerabilities in defense in their respective national leagues: Newcastle has conceded in their last three Premier League matches against mid-table and bottom-half opponents, while Athletic Club has allowed goals in 8 of their last 9 La Liga games.  

Expert Betting Recommendation

My prediction for this match is – “Both Teams to Score – Yes” with current odds of 1.95