Hansi Flick has cautioned that Newcastle could pose a serious threat to Barcelona’s Champions League ambitions, highlighting the strength of “the best league in the world.”

Barcelona travel to St James’ Park on Tuesday for the first leg of the last-16 tie, entering as clear favourites to reach the quarter-finals. The five-time European champions top La Liga and boast a star-studded squad.

Newcastle, by contrast, sit 12th in the Premier League and have never progressed past the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition. However, Flick believes their Premier League pedigree, financial backing, and squad depth make them a formidable opponent.

“The Premier League is a great league — for me, it’s the best league in the world, and they have strong teams,” Flick told reporters on Monday. “Of course, they also have a lot of money to make the right decisions, but six teams are in the next round, so they are doing something right.

“We have to continue our way, our style, how we want to play. This is our philosophy. We want to play like Barca also here in the Champions League because our supporters are proud of us and the way we play football, so this is what we want to show tomorrow.”

This will be the second meeting between the clubs on Tyneside this season, following Barcelona’s 2-1 win in the group stage in September, courtesy of Marcus Rashford’s double.

Flick acknowledged Newcastle’s inconsistency in domestic competitions but warned that they often save their best for Europe.

“The Champions League is different. Everyone who plays at this stage wants to show their best,” he said. “They are a team which on transition have very fast and outstanding players, and we have to handle that and manage it.”

Barcelona arrive in England amid off-field tensions between club president Joan Laporta and former coach Xavi Hernandez, with next week’s presidential election adding further intrigue. Flick, however, insists his focus remains entirely on the pitch.

“It’s one of the most important weeks in the season because we want to go to the next round,” he said. “We have a game here, and we have to focus on the game.”