UEFA Champions League draw: Newcastle United, Chelsea & co discover Round of 16 opponents

Newcastle United latest news: Newcastle United discover their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 opponents.

Newcastle United’s potential route to Budapest has been mapped out by UEFA and will begin with a Round of 16 clash against Barcelona.

Champions League draw: Newcastle United discover UEFA Champions League Round of 16 opponents | Getty Images

placeholder image — Champions League draw: Newcastle United discover UEFA Champions League Round of 16 opponents | Getty Images

The Magpies defeated Qarabag 9-3 over two-legs to book their place in the last-16 stage. Newcastle United have previously featured in the final 16 of the Champions League, but that came way back in the 2002/03 season and saw them compete in a second group stage, rather than a two-legged knockout round that they will compete in next month.

Today’s draw isn’t the first that Newcastle United will have featured in this season, having already had some of their pathway cleared up by the play-off round draw that took place ahead of their tie with Qarabag. Heading into today’s draw, the Magpies know that they could only have drawn Chelsea or Barcelona.

Chelsea are familiar domestic opponents and recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at St James’ Park when they met in the league in December. Barcelona, meanwhile, are also fairly familiar opponents for Newcastle United with the two sides meeting on numerous occasions in Champions League past.

They also met on Tyneside on matchday one of the league phase, with Barcelona triumphing 2-1 thanks to a brace from loanee Marcus Rashford. Asked who he wants Newcastle United to face in the Round of 16, Jacob Murphy told Amazon Prime: “Anyone. Honestly with this group of players we'll take anyone on, especially with knockout football we back ourselves. Bring on whoever's to come.”

Asked on Friday morning before the draw had taken place, Eddie Howe was also asked for his thoughts on Newcastle United being in the last-16 of the competition: “Yeah, really special, really positive for us.

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“Just grateful we can't get Man City! So no, we're looking forward to what the draw brings and we look forward to that game when it comes around.”

Newcastle United discover UEFA Champions League Round of 16 opponents

Friday afternoon’s draw has pitted Newcastle United against Barcelona.

Newcastle United’s potential route to the final

Last-16: Barcelona

Quarter-final: The winners of Atletico Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur.

Semi-final: The winners of the quarter-final tie involving the winners of Bodo/Glimt v Sporting CP and the winners of Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal.

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Final: PSG, Chelsea, Galatasaray, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Atalanta or Bayern Munich

Newcastle United will play the second-leg of each knockout round away from home, meaning they will have no home advantage in the second-leg of any match, like they enjoyed against Qarabag, between now and the final. They will also be designated as the away team in the final if they reach that stage.