The opening Champions League fixture is always a landmark moment, and for Barcelona, kicking off their campaign at St. James’ Park promises to be a challenging start.
Newcastle, back in Europe's top competition and eager to make a statement following the departure of star striker Alexander Isak, will be buoyed by the energy of a passionate home crowd and a point to prove for the Premier League.
Barcelona, meanwhile, arrive as one of the tournament favourites, aiming to start their European journey with a statement win. But it won't just be a night of firsts for the players, it will also mark the debut of something new: not a player, but a kit.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Hansi Flick’s team will be sporting a fresh design adding a layer of anticipation and colour to an already high-stakes encounter.
The new kit in the bright lights
That’s right, bright lights and bright kit. Barcelona will take to the pitch in the north of England in their new orange third kit for the first time this season. Due to a color clash, Barcelona will set aside their traditional blaugrana home kit in favor of a striking orange strip, a design inspired by the iconic early-2000s Total90 era.
The kit, defined by bold navy accents framing the collar and back striping, makes a statement with the Spotify logo and Barcelona crest standing out as sharply as a free goal for a Barça striker. The all-orange ensemble, complete with matching shorts and socks, evokes memories of the kit worn during the 2009 Club World Cup final, a symbolic nod to the peak of Pep Guardiola’s dominance and the historic sextuple-winning season.
Barcelona’s 2025/26 away and third kits are yet to make their debut, with the opening two league matches against Mallorca and Levante seeing the team revert to last season’s third kit due to color clashes with the opposition.
Now, it's a waiting game until 18 September to see whether Lamine Yamal and Frenkie de Jong will be fit to step onto the St. James' Park pitch in Barcelona's new colours, a kit that could mark the beginning of another historic European journey.