Champions League draw: Newcastle United discover UEFA Champions League Round of 16 opponentsplaceholder image
Champions League draw: Newcastle United discover UEFA Champions League Round of 16 opponents | Getty Images
Newcastle United latest news: Newcastle United discover their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 opponents.
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’s potential route to the final
Last-16: Chelsea or Barcelona
Semi-final: The winners of the quarter-final tie involving the winners of Bodo/Glimt v Manchester City or Sporting and the winners of Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal or Bayern Munich.
Final: Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Real Madrid and Atalanta are the only teams Newcastle can’t face until the final. Chelsea or Barcelona, Spurs or Liverpool, Manchester City or Sporting and Bayern Munich or Arsenal will also be on the opposite side of the draw when it is made on Friday with the other four being on Newcastle’s side.
UEFA Champions League dates
Last-16: 1st legs: 10 & 11 March 2026, 2nd legs: 17 & 18 March 2026
Quarter-final: 1st legs: 7 & 8 April 2026, 2nd legs: 14 & 15 April 2026
Semi-final: 1st legs: 28 & 29 April 2026, 2nd legs: 5 & 6 May 2026
Final: 30 May 2026 at Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary
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