Champions League chasm between Manchester City and Newcastle United there for all to see

Manchester City and Newcastle United are both competing in the 2025/26 Champions League.

The Swiss League stage is now completed, the eight rounds of matches now gone.

Manchester City squeezing into the last 16 when finishing in the eighth and last of the automatic qualifying places.

Newcastle United hoping to join them by getting past Qarabag in their two-legged play-off.

It was so close.

If Newcastle United had taken one of their late chances in Paris, especially that Harvey Barnes one, then Eddie Howe and his players would have grabbed the automatic qualifying spot and Manchester City needing to go through the play-off process.

However, a Champions League chasm has now opened up between the two clubs.

A stark reminder of how this is anything but a level playing field for Newcastle United, as they look to try and compete with the likes of Manchester City.

By close of business on Thursday, the clubs left in the Champions League had to register any changes to their squad, for the rest of the competition.

UEFA have then published these changes.

Newcastle United

In the black and white corner.

Eddie Howe has been able to add…John Ruddy.

The 39 year old keeper added to United’s senior Champions League squad for the rest of the competition. Emil Krafth having to drop out to make way for him (the eligibility criteria means NUFC only able to fill 21 of the 25 UCL squad places this season), although the defender is long-term injured anyway. Young keeper Max Thompson is out on loan at Ayr, so Ruddy extra back up to Pope and Ramsdale.

Manchester City

In the Sky Blue corner, things slightly different.

Pep Guardiola signing Antoine Semenyo, Bournemouth’s best player.

Pep Guardiola signing Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace’s best player.

Not only were they the best two players at these clubs, Semenyo and Guehi would be seen by many/most people as amongst the best 11 Premier League performers this season.

Manchester City adding both these players to their Champions League squad for the rest of the competition.

Not only that….Sverre Nypan recalled from his loan deal at Middlesbrough, Max Alleyne recalled from his loan at Watford.

These two can also now play for Manchester City in the rest of the Champions League competition, or at the very least, play minutes in other competitions to help protect star players. Alleyne played the second half against Newcastle in midweek as Man City progressed to the Carabao Cup final, Nypan was an unused sub.

The young players count as B List players for the Champions League, young players under a certain age are extra to the senior Champions League squad.

Both these young players have excelled in the Championship this season. Alleyne for Watford, whilst Nypan has played 20 times for Middlesbrough and helped make them one of the favourites for promotion, he is also a Norway international already at senior level.

All of this of course, whilst Manchester City have 115 Premier League charges still hanging over them, endless delays meaning it is now years this has been going on and still the Manchester City legal team able to keep delaying any outcome…and punishment.

In the meantime, Manchester City just keep getting stronger and stronger, buying more and more elite players, paying huge wages to attract them (Guehi reported to be on more than £16m a year), keep exerting that financial power they have, thanks to what has happened during all of those years which the charges relate to, charges for which EVENTUALLY, they may or may not be found guilty on.