Newcastle United have been handed a formidable 8,000-mile midweek journey after being drawn against Azerbaijani side Qarabag in the Champions League play-off round. The tie, scheduled for either February 17 or 18, will see Eddie Howe's squad bypass a potentially simpler clash with Monaco, who instead face Paris Saint-Germain.
A Daunting Away Fixture on Foreign Soil
Unlike Qarabag's recent 6-0 thrashing by Liverpool at Anfield, this encounter will unfold on the Azerbaijani club's home turf. This geographical challenge adds a significant logistical hurdle for Newcastle, requiring extensive travel during a congested fixture period. Qarabag may approach the match with caution, having faced Premier League opposition consecutively in European competitions.
Navigating a Path to the Knockout Stages
Should Newcastle overcome Qarabag, their round-of-16 opponents would be either Barcelona or Chelsea, setting the stage for a high-profile European clash. The potential route beyond that takes on a distinctly English flavour, with a quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur and a semi-final against Arsenal looming as possibilities. This draw emphasises the competitive nature of the Premier League's representation in this season's Champions League.
Other Notable Fixtures in the Play-Off Draw
Elsewhere, the draw produced an immediate replay of a group stage classic, with Benfica set to face Real Madrid once more. This tie follows a dramatic 4-2 victory for Benfica, sealed by a late injury-time header from goalkeeper Anatoly Trubin. The match saw Real Madrid reduced to nine men after quick successive yellow cards for Raul Asencio and Rodrygo during added time.
In a moment of pure jubilation, Benfica manager Jose Mourinho celebrated by sprinting from his technical area and embracing a ball boy, echoing his famous touchline antics of years past. The winner of this revenge match could potentially face Manchester City in the next round, depending on other results.
Complete Champions League Play-Off Draw
- Benfica vs Real Madrid
- Qarabag vs Newcastle
- Bodo/Glimt vs Inter Milan
- Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain
- Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen
- Galatasaray vs Juventus
- Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
- Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
Premier League Dominance in Automatic Qualification
Of the eight teams that secured automatic qualification for the knockout stages, five hailed from the Premier League, underscoring the league's strength in European competition. They were joined by Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Sporting Lisbon. Liverpool and Tottenham, as automatic qualifiers, will face the winners of matches such as Galatasaray versus Juventus or Club Brugge versus Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal, the first Premier League side to confirm their knockout place, await the victor of either Borussia Dortmund versus Atalanta or Olympiacos versus Bayer Leverkusen. This draw sets up a thrilling conclusion to the play-off round, with multiple storylines and potential classic encounters on the horizon.
