Reading view

Will Spalletti extend his contract with Juventus?

Luciano Spalletti’s contract with Juventus expires at the end of the season, and the Italian tactician has already convinced the club to offer him a new deal, but is it enough to continue together beyond the summer?

Spalletti was appointed in October 2025 to replace Igor Tudor, and the Bianconeri have shown steady signs of improvement since.

Although the Serie A giants still sit 6th in the standings, four points below fourth-placed Roma, the team has shown a strong identity, both domestically and in Europe, and it’s no coincidence that Australian online casino bookmakers still place them among the favourites to secure a Champions League spot this term.

When does Spalletti’s contract expire?

Spalletti signed a contract until the end of the season, and Tuttosport reported last week that club directors are already convinced to offer Spalletti a new deal beyond the summer.

The Italian tactician has publicly said that he’s happy to sign a contract extension, but according to reports, he still has to reach an agreement with the club.

Juventus and Spalletti will sit down in the coming weeks, but the coach has reportedly demanded at least three big signings, one in each department, for the 2026-27 campaign.

According to Tuttosport, the agreement between Juventus and Spalletti does not hinge on the Italian tactician’s salary, but rather on the club’s plans for next season and the long-term future.

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 14: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“I’m looking for a football pitch, a ball, and players to coach, preferably intelligent ones, and I have that because my players are like that. If that were the necessity, it could be sorted out immediately,” Spalletti said in February, while director Giorgio Chiellini confirmed the club’s desire to extend.

“We are very happy with Spalletti and what he is achieving. I think he, too, is enjoying his time at Juventus. There is no rush, but also no doubt,” said the ex-defender, now the Director of Football Strategy at the Allianz Stadium.

“Luciano arrived here with great enthusiasm at Juventus, and he signed a contract with no guarantees precisely because he wanted to challenge himself. He is doing very well; he is part of the present and the future of this team.”

Even if Juventus are far from securing a Champions League spot this season, even former Bianconeri stars such as Miralem Pjanic believe Juventus must look to Spalletti for a long-term project.

“In Rome, I was coached for six months by Luciano. He’s a top manager,” the former midfielder told Gazzetta.

“Spalletti has given the team a clear identity, and the club now needs stability to start winning again. Spalletti is the right man to begin a new cycle, but obviously, he’s not enough. At least three top-level signings will be needed, one for each department.”

How to buy Champions League tickets for Newcastle vs. Barcelona

Newcastle United fans won’t want to miss an unforgettable experience as Barcelona are set to travel to St James’ Park in the Champions League next week.

BUY NEWCASTLE VS. BARCELONA TICKETS

The Magpies made it through their playoff tie against Qarabag without too much trouble, though this will obviously be a far tougher test for Eddie Howe and co.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Malick Thiaw during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park on February 14, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 14: Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Malick Thiaw during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park on February 14, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Still, that’s what fans of most clubs dream about, and Newcastle have waited a long time to get to a Champions League knock-out tie against a glamorous opponent like this one.

Needless to say, there’ll be huge demands for Newcastle vs Barcelona tickets, so read on for our guide about getting to the game and what to expect on the night.

How to buy Newcastle United tickets

Newcastle fans will surely be flocking to the club’s official ticket page here, but it’s likely to prove a competitive scramble to get to such a big game.

If ever there was a time to look out for alternative sources, it’s now, so we’d highly recommend following our link here for another route to the game that doesn’t involve the extra cost and hassle of becoming a season ticket holder or club member.

BUY NEWCASTLE VS. BARCELONA TICKETS

How to buy Barcelona tickets

Barcelona fans can always try the club’s official ticket page here, but we would again suggest that for a big game like this it’s well worth exploring alternatives.

Follow our link here for our dedicated ticket hub which provides an easy-to-use service for big games in the Premier League and beyond, with the security of a 150% money back guarantee.

How Newcastle could line up vs Barcelona

Newcastle will need to be at full strength for this one, and Howe will hope to have some players back from injury by the time this match comes around.

One player who is not expected back yet is Bruno Guimaraes, but there could be more hope for Nick Woltemade and Tino Livramento.

BUY NEWCASTLE VS. BARCELONA TICKETS

It’s hard to know for sure what NUFC can put out, but all going well, we’d expect a line-up something like this…

Newcastle predicted line-up: Pope; Thiaw, Burn, Livramento, Hall; Joelinton, Tonali; Gordon, Barnes, Elanga, Woltemade.

How Barcelona could line up vs Newcastle

Barcelona have good squad depth, so Hansi Flick might make use of that for this game, though we’d imagine there won’t be too many risky choices.

Frenkie de Jong is currently out injured, so that means some tinkering in the Barca midfield, but most of the rest of the team more or less picks itself…

Barcelona predicted line-up: Garcia; Kounde, Balde, Garcia, Cubarsi; Pedri, Bernal, Lopez; Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski

Newcastle vs Barcelona head-to-head record

There haven’t been many games between these two clubs, but they did meet early on in the league phase of the competition this season.

That was a Barca victory at St James’ Park thanks to goals from on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, and overall it was a fourth victory in this fixture for the Catalan giants.

Newcastle have only won once in five games against these opponents, all the way back in the Champions League in 1997, when it finished 3-2 to the Premier League side.

Who’s your money on this time? Let us know in the comments!

Ex-Premier League stars finding new life in Serie A

Donyell Malen is only the last player to shine in Serie A after a move from the Premier League, following in the footsteps of Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay.

With six goals scored in his opening seven Serie A matches, ex-Aston Villa striker Malen has had a tremendous impact at Roma, becoming the second-best European top-scorer after Harry Kane since his move to the Olimpico.

His impact in the Serie A title race has given Roma a boost on Anglia Bet as the Giallorossi fight for a top-four finish.

Malen’sbig Roma impact

After Round 27, the Giallorossi sit 4th in the standings, with a three-point lead over Como and four points more than Juventus.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini recently explained how he convinced Malen to join the team from Aston Villa during the winter transfer window.

“He played for Aston Villa and the national team. The way I convinced him to come and play for Roma was by telling him, ‘You’ll play.’ He often ended up on the wing, but for me, he’s a striker, and he wanted this. A striker doesn’t have to be 1,90m tall,” said the Giallorossi boss.

“I think we are already on a good level, but everything can improve. If you lose strikers for one and a half months, it becomes more difficult for everyone.” 

Malen is the last player to have had an immediate impact on Serie A after a move from the Premier League.

One of the most notable examples is McTominay at Napoli. The Scotland star won the Scudetto in his first year at the Stadio Maradona and was named the best player in the league in 2024-25.

One year after his move to Naples, another Manchester United player followed him as the Partenopei signed Hojlund from Old Trafford.

The Dane has grabbed 13 goals and provided four assists in 34 appearances under Antonio Conte so far this season.

Back in 2019-20, Romelu Lukaku made the difference for Inter after a move from Manchester United, helping the club win the Scudetto in his second season at the Stadio Meazza, also under Conte.

Danilo, a former Manchester City defender, is another player who has won the Serie A title, lifting the trophy with Juventus in 2019-20.

MILAN, ITALY - APRIL 05: Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan warms up prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Fiorentina at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 05, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 05: Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan warms up prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Fiorentina at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 05, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Fikayo Tomori won the domestic title with Milan in his second season in 2021-22 after completing a permanent move from Chelsea.

Talking about Milan and Chelsea, how can we not mention Christian Pulisic, another player who has surely improved his game since moving from Stamford Bridge to San Siro?

Captain America has only won one Supercoppa at Milan, but has scored 42 goals in 124 games with the Rossoneri, justifying his €20m price tag.

Atalanta the biggest underdog of 2025-26 Champions League RO16

Serie A side Atalanta aren’t only the only Italian club still involved in the Champions League, but also the biggest underdog to win the title.

Atalanta progressed to the Champions League Round of 16 by beating Borussia Dortmund in the knockout play-off.

La Dea came back from two goals down in the second leg to beat the Germans 4-3 on aggregate, thanks to a 4-1 win in the second leg in Bergamo.

BERGAMO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 25: Players of Atalanta celebrates victory following the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Atalanta BC and Borussia Dortmund at Stadio di Bergamo on February 25, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Players of Atalanta celebrates victory following the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Atalanta BC and Borussia Dortmund at Stadio di Bergamo on February 25, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Bettors using online casino platforms highlight that the Nerazzurri hold the longest to win the Champions League, making them the least likely contenders to lift Europe’s coveted trophy.

Atalanta will meet Bayern Munich in the Round of 16, and, on the other hand, the Bavarians are among the top three favourites to win the Champions League, alongside Arsenal and title holders PSG. Atalanta’s task is even harder, as they’ll face Manchester City or Real Madrid if they progress to the quarter-finals.

Atalanta understand the magnitude of the challenge they face, as their director, Umberto Marino, recently said.

“We’ll try to make life difficult for Bayern. We must be Atalanta as we’ve always been, facing them with courage, determination and the fans’ support,” Marino said after the Champions League Round of 16 draw in Nyon at the end of February.

“It’s a tough game, and we’ll need an extraordinary performance, but we play with Atalanta’s enthusiasm, which helped us reach the Champions League Round of 16, a unique objective.

“We’ll play it with the support of our fans, at home and away, because we need them. Then we’ll see what happens on the pitch.”

Atalanta might be the underdogs against Bayern, but La Dea has already shocked some German heavyweights, such as Borussia Dortmund in the previous Champions League round and Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024 Europa League Final.

Atalanta look reborn under new coach Raffaele Palladino, who was appointed in November to replace the disappointing Ivan Juric.

“We achieved a comeback that will stay in the history books,” Palladino said after beating Borussia Dortmund.

“We’re so happy, I want to thank every single player, those who were on the field, on the bench, in the stands, my staff, the President Antonio Percassi, the directors, and all the fans.

“There were 23,000 people pushing us from start to finish this evening, they created a unique atmosphere in our stadium.

“It was probably the best game I ever experienced in my coaching career, and it will remain in my mind forever. This club deserves this incredible satisfaction.”

How to buy tickets for Newcastle vs. Manchester United

Manchester United travel to Tyneside looking to continue their spectacular revival under interim manager Michael Carrick.

BUY NEWCASTLE VS. MAN UNITED TICKETS

Currently sitting 3rd in the Premier League table, the Red Devils have won five of their last six matches.

They most recently fought off a resilient 10-man Crystal Palace with a 2-1 victory, propelled by the red-hot Benjamin Šeško.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United (currently 13th) are desperate to find consistency.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 05: Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United is challenged by Alejandro Rego of Athletic Club during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Newcastle United FC and Athletic Club at St James' Park on November 05, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United is challenged by Alejandro Rego of Athletic Club during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Newcastle United FC and Athletic Club at St James’ Park on November 05, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The Magpies are coming off a frustrating 3-2 defeat against Everton and have struggled defensively, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 outings across all competitions.

A win under the lights at St. James’ Park is crucial for Newcastle to keep any late European qualification hopes alive.

BUY NEWCASTLE VS. MAN UNITED TICKETS

How Newcastle United could line up against Man United

The Magpies are facing a severe injury crisis, particularly in the midfield and defence.

Key playmaker Bruno Guimarães is sidelined with a muscle injury, while Fabian Schär, Tino Livramento, Emil Krafth, and Lewis Miley are all ruled out.

Newcastle United Predicted Line Up: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Ramsey, Tonali; Elanga, Woltemade, Joelinton; Gordon.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between Manchester United and Rangers FC at Old Trafford on January 23, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) (Serie A Europa League support)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 23: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between Manchester United and Rangers FC at Old Trafford on January 23, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

How Man United could line up against Newcastle United

Carrick has largely relied on a settled starting eleven.

Benjamin Šeško is expected to lead the line ahead of Amad Diallo after a blistering run of form, scoring 7 goals in his last 8 appearances.

At the back, Leny Yoro continues to deputise with Lisandro Martínez ruled out.

Man United Predicted line up: Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Šeško.

How to buy Newcastle United tickets

Newcastle United tickets can be purchased via the club’s official website, though availability is often limited for supporters who are not season ticket holders or members.

If you’re looking for a simpler, more competitively priced option, we recommend using our trusted link to find an accessible alternative.

How to buy Man United tickets

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Bryan Mbeumo of Manchester United is challenged by Luca Ranieri of Fiorentina during the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and ACF Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 09, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

Man United supporters often head straight to the club’s official ticketing site, but it’s worth comparing other sources to see if better prices or improved availability are on offer.

We recommend using our link to avoid paying extra membership fees just to secure priority access to a high-demand fixture.

Our straightforward platform also offers added confidence, backed by a 150% money-back guarantee for complete peace of mind.

BUY NEWCASTLE VS. MAN UNITED TICKETS

Newcastle United vs Man United Head-to-Head record

Newcastle United and Manchester United have faced each other a total of 183 times across all competitive fixtures.

Manchester United have 94 wins, Newcastle have 48 wins and 41 matches have ended as draws.

The record is much more evenly split when the Magpies have the home advantage in Tyneside.

In 88 matches played at St. James’ Park, Newcastle have 36 wins, while Man United have 33 wins.

❌