Newcastle United vs Athletic Club Prediction - UEFA Champions League, November 5, 2025

The UEFA Champions League returns to the cauldron of St. James' Park on November 5, 2025, for a compelling League Phase clash as Newcastle United hosts Athletic Club. Eddie Howe's Magpies have established their home ground as an intimidating European fortress, and they'll be looking to cement their status against an Athletic Club side built on fierce Basque pride and tactical discipline under Ernesto Valverde.

Newcastle United: Powering Forward

Newcastle’s summer business was shrewd and impactful, adding serious depth and quality to an already formidable squad. The additions of forward Yoane Wissa (from Brentford) and versatile midfielder Jacob Ramsey (from Aston Villa) have injected new life into the attack and midfield, respectively, while the defensive recruitment of Malick Thiaw provides an elite partner for Sven Botman.

Their recent form suggests they are finding their rhythm, coming off a strong win against Benfica in the Champions League and another domestic victory against Fulham. The goals have been flowing, especially with Anthony Gordon in exceptional form and new striker Nick Woltemade finding his footing quickly. The midfield trio of Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton remains the engine, blending silk with steel.

Predicted Newcastle XI (4-3-3):

Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Guimarães, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon.

*(Notable Absentees/Doubts: Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall, Yoane Wissa - all injured)

 Athletic Club: The Basque Wall

Athletic Club is always a difficult proposition, combining a relentless pressing game with the electrifying pace of the Williams brothers. Their recruitment is notoriously restricted, but the addition of creative midfielder Robert Navarro and right-back Jesús Areso has added useful fresh dimensions to Valverde's squad.

The key to their European campaign rests on the shoulders of the goalscoring central midfielder Oihan Sancet, who is their most potent threat alongside the pace and directness of Nico Williams and the experienced leadership of his brother, Iñaki Williams. Their recent results in La Liga have been solid, but their Champions League form has been mixed, showcasing both defensive solidity and a tendency to concede against top-tier attacks. They will rely heavily on a compact structure and opportunistic counter-attacks.

Predicted Athletic Club XI (4-2-3-1):

Unai Simón; De Galarreta, Paredes, Vivian, Yuri; Vesga, Jaureguizar; Iñaki Williams, Sancet, Nico Williams; Guruzeta.

The Tactical Showdown

The match will likely be a battle for midfield supremacy and control in wide areas.

• Newcastle's Advantage: The Magpies’ high-octane press and physical midfield—led by Guimarães and Joelinton—will aim to suffocate Athletic’s ball circulation. The delivery from Kieran Trippier and the sheer pace of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga (or Harvey Barnes) down the flanks will be a constant threat to Athletic’s defence.

• Athletic's Threat: Athletic will try to utilize the space behind Newcastle's full-backs on the counter, releasing the Williams brothers into one-on-one situations. The central duel between Thiaw/Botman and Sancet/Guruzeta will be pivotal, with Sancet's late runs into the box posing a major danger.

Final Prediction

St. James' Park under the European lights is an atmosphere that is notoriously hard for visiting teams to handle. While Athletic Club possesses the structure and pace to punish any sloppiness, Newcastle's home form, combined with their superior squad depth and current goalscoring momentum, should see them edge out a tight contest. The Magpies' blend of power and pace should eventually break down the stubborn Basque defence.

Prediction: Newcastle United 2 - 1 Athletic Club

Bet on the Champions League Thrills!

Ready to back your prediction for the Magpies to conquer the Lions of Bilbao? Get the best odds on this and every Champions League fixture!

Click here to place your bet with Sky247 NG!