The Magpies will learn their next opponents this week barring a disaster against Qarabag
Newcastle United will find out their Champions League path this week
No one inside St James’ Park is counting any chickens just yet, but Newcastle United are all-but in the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League.
The Magpies stunning 6-1 victory over Qarabag in the first leg of the play-off round last week, has set them up nicely for the return leg on Tuesday night.
It means nothing short of a miraculous away win would deny Eddie Howe’s side a place in the draw and the chance to progress to the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite competition.
They will join the five other Premier League sides who have already made it through by virtue of finishing in the top eight of the group stage. Clubs will find out their route to the final this week, as UEFA make the draw for the quarter-finals and sem-finals. Here’s all you need to know.
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When is the UEFA Champions League draw?
The draw for the remaining knockout rounds will take place on Friday, February 27 at UEFA headquarters in Nyom, Switzerland. Proceedings will get under way at 11am UK time.
How does the UEFA Champions League draw work?
The eight winners of the play-off ties will face one of two sides who finished in positions 1-8 in the group. That has already been decided based on league position, with Newcastle knowing they will take on either Chelsea or Barcelona. Friday’s draw will determine which of those two sides United will face.
Then the draw will be made for the quarter-finals and semi-finals, with Newcastle’s path becoming clearer.
Here’s how the draw looks as things stand.
Monaco/PSG vs Chelsea/BarcelonaNewcastle/Qarabag vs Chelsea/BarcelonaGalatasray/Juventus vs Liverpool/TottenhamClub Brugge/Athletico Madrid vs Liverpool/TottenhamBenfica/Real Madrid vs Sporting/Manchester CityBodo Glimt/Inter Milan vs Sporting/Manchester CityDortmund/Atalanta vs Arsenal/Bayern MunichOlympiacos/Leverkusen vs Arsenal/Bayern Munich
This is where it gets more complicated. The last 16 are split into two halves, with the winners of each game already knowing their potential quarter-final opponents.
In Newcastle’s case, if they get past Chelsea or Barcelona they will face either Tottenham, Liverpool, Club Brugge or Athletico Madrid.
The first leg of the Atleti vs Brugge play-off tie ended 3-3 in Belgium, with the return leg in the Spanish capital on Tuesday. The winner of that game will face either Liverpool or Spurs in the last 16.
Champions League play-off round first-leg resultsMonaco 2-3 PSGGalatasaray 5-2 JuventusBenfica 0-1 Real MadridBorussia Dortmund 2-0 AtalantaQarabag 1-6 Newcastle UnitedClub Brugge 3-3 Athletico MadridBodo/Glimt 3-1 Inter MilanOlympiacos 0-2 Bayer LeverkusenChampions League play-off round first-leg results
Tuesday, February 24 (8pm unless stated)
Newcastle United vs QarabagAthletico Madrid vs Club Brugge (5.45pm)Inter Milan vs Bodo/GlimtBayer Leverkusen vs Olympiacos
Wednesday, February 25 (8pm unless stated)
PSG vs MonacoJuventus vs GalatasarayReal Madrid vs BenficaAtalanta vs Borussia Dortmund (5.45pm)UEFA Champions League knockout round dates
Here’s when the first and second legs of each round will take place.
Last 16: March 10-11 and March 17-18
Quarter-finals: April 7-8 and April 14-15
Semi-finals: April 28-29 and May 5-6
Final: May 30
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