Barring an absolute disaster this evening against Qarabag (touch every piece of wood you can find to be sure), Newcastle United will be in the hat for the round of 16 Champions League draw. It will take them one small step closer to Budapest in May.
We can all dream, can’t we?
However, Eddie Howe and his players must overcome a host of potential obstacles if they are to reach the final.
European giants, upcoming powerhouses and familiar foes could all be on the cards going forward.
So, with fantasies of Dan Burn bullet headers and Bruno Guimaraes screamers etched into our dreams. Let’s take a look at all the possible routes for the Magpies from here on out.
Stamford Bridge or Spain: The Round of 16
Providing we fight off an unfathomable remontada, it will be either Chelsea or Barcelona in the next round. PSG or Monaco will face the other.
Newcastle have already faced Chelsea this season. A 2-2 draw at St James’ Park saw the hosts throw away a two-goal lead in an abysmal second-half performance.
Barcelona have also travelled to St James’ Park this season in the Champions League.
The Spanish giants had to work hard for their 2–1 victory. They endured a late scare when Anthony Gordon finished off an excellently worked move, but Barca ultimately saw out the game and took all three points home.
Given the option of the two, it’s safe to assume most of the Geordie faithful, including myself, would like to see a trip to Spain rather than yet another drab journey to London. Despite the fact that Chelsea may be an easier tie, all things considered.
English, Spanish or Belgian?: A Possible Quarter-Final
The clubs that finished in the top eight are yet to have their side of the draw decided. What we do know, though, is that Newcastle’s branch will definitely include at least one English outfit, with the choice being between Spurs and Liverpool.
Liverpool or Spurs will face either Atletico Madrid or Club Brugge in the round of 16. That playoff tie is currently perfectly poised at 3-3 heading into the second leg.
That leg will be at home for Atletico Madrid, who will back themselves to overcome the controlled chaos of the Belgian giants. But Club Brugge will give themselves every chance of progression with their intense style.
Of those four clubs, Newcastle will be hoping they avoid Liverpool, given they have already lost to the Merseyside club twice in the league, including a 4-1 drubbing away from home at Anfield, and haven’t won there for more than thirty years.
Spurs or Club Brugge would be the preferred two options. Given the issues Spurs have faced domestically and the relative lack of firepower Brugge have compared to Atletico and Liverpool.
England Again or a Broader Challenge?: Semi-Final
Newcastle could face an English club in every round on their way to the final. Either Arsenal or Manchester City (or both) could land on the same side of the draw when the top eight seeds are placed.
If it’s not those two, then it will be perennial Champions League favourites Bayern Munich, or Portuguese giants Sporting Club de Portugal (Sporting Lisbon to you and I) that could provide the opposition.
Either Man City or Sporting will face Bodo/Glimt or Internazionale. The two are currently battling in the playoffs with Bodo leading 3-1 heading into the second leg at the San Siro.
Similarly, either Bayern or Arsenal will face Olympiakos or Bayer Leverkusen. The more likely option is Leverkusen given their 2-0 lead heading into the home leg in Germany.
Should it reach that point, and of course this is very nuanced, Newcastle would likely fancy themselves against any of Olympiakos, Sporting or Leverkusen but would hope to avoid Man City (please, not again), Arsenal and Bayern Munich.
Every Possible Final
Now onto the possible final opponents, which, granted, is almost any team in the tournament at this stage.
Any of the top eight seeded teams could end up on the other side of the draw, with a chance of making it to the final.
In addition, it will include one club from each of these games:
PSG or Monaco (3-2 PSG after the first leg). Galatasaray or Juventus (Galatasaray commanding a 5-2 lead heading to Turin). Benfica or Real Madrid (with a 1-0 advantage to Real thus far). Dortmund or Atalanta (Dortmund lead 2-0 but do travel to Italy for the second leg).
It’s difficult to speculate who Newcastle would and wouldn’t like from that list, given there are still so many permutations. But, I think it’s safe to say that if we make it to the final, nobody will be too bothered who we end up playing…
