UEFA reveal when Newcastle United will find out Champions League opponents
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Champions League play-off draw: This is when Newcastle United will find out their opponents for the UEFA Champions League play-off round.
Newcastle United shared the points with PSG at the Parc des Princes - but missed out on securing qualification for the Champions League Round of 16.
Instead, the Magpies will have to play a two-legged play-off game next month to book their place in the last-16 of the competition. An early goal from Vitinha had put PSG in control on the night and in control of their own top-eight destiny on Wednesday.
However, Joe Willock’s header just before the break allowed Newcastle United to wrestle back their dreams of finishing in the top-eight. For a long portion of the second half, they occupied the final automatic qualifying position before goals elsewhere ensured they dropped out of the top-eight.
Ultimately, Eddie Howe’s side would be forced to settle for a 12th placed finish in the league, with PSG finishing above them by virtue of goals scored. All five other English teams finished in the top-eight, meanwhile, with Sporting CP, Barcelona and Bayern Munich also securing their place in the last-16.
With all 18 Champions League matches kicking off simultaneously across Europe on Wednesday night, there was drama all over the continent as clubs swapped positions in the table constantly throughout the night. Much of the drama, though, centred on Lisbon as Benfica defeated Real Madrid 4-2 to qualify for the play-offs.
Jose Mourinho’s side entered stoppage time ahead of the Spanish giants, but needing a goal to leapfrog Marseille to secure 24th place. Up popped goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to score a stoppage time header and secure the most dramatic of wins for his side.
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Newcastle United’s Champions League play-off opponents
Newcastle United know they will have the luxury of home advantage in the second-leg of their play-off game - but don’t yet know who they will play in the next round. A draw on Friday will determine their exact opponents but the Magpies know that it will pair them up against either AS Monaco or Qarabag.
A clash against Monaco would see them face French opposition for the third time this season having already been paired up against Marseille and PSG in the league phase. Qarabag, meanwhile, became the first Azerbaijani side to ever qualify for the Champions League knockout stages - although a 6-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool on Wednesday night will have dented their belief.
The newly-formatted Champions League means that every club knows their pathway to the final following Friday’s draw with Newcastle United potentially being paired against Premier League opposition in Chelsea in the Round of 16 if the draw falls that way.
The first-leg of Newcastle United’s play-off round will be played on the week of 17/18 February with the return leg, at St James’ Park, to be played on the 24/25 February. The first-leg will follow a clash against Aston Villa in the FA Cup (on Saturday 14 February) with the second-leg coming a couple of days after they make the trip to Manchester City for a Premier League clash with Pep Guardiola’s side on Saturday 21 February. That game will kick-off at 12:30pm unless Newcastle United’s play-off first-leg takes place on Wednesday 18 February, in which case, their match at the Etihad Stadium will instead be an 8pm kick-off.