Newcastle United to play Champions League clubs they’ve already faced 38 times? | OneFootball

There are 30 Champions League clubs that Newcastle United could be drawn against.

We are set to find out the reality when the draw starts at 5pm on Thursday.

There are five Champions League clubs that Newcastle can’t be drawn out against tonight.

At this league stage, NUFC can’t face other Premier League clubs, so that rules out Spurs, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Stating the obvious but naturally Newcastle have played all five of those countless times in competitive matches.

However, what about the 30 Champions League clubs that United could be drawn against tonight?

Well, it is all but impossible for Newcastle United to be drawn against eight clubs tonight and never having faced any of them in previous European competition.

Whilst it is possible for Newcastle United to be drawn against eight clubs tonight, having faced ALL of them in previous European competition.

Also worth pointing out, none of this involves the Intertoto!

Here are the four groups of nine, 15 of the 30 non-English clubs Newcastle United have played previously in European competition.

Newcastle have played 38 competitive European matches against these 15 clubs.

Have a go at trying to name them first and below I will detail those previous matches.

(All of these ties were two matches each apart from Eintracht Frankfurt and one tie against Sporting Lisbon which were each just one group match)

Pot One

PSG – 2023/24 Champions League

Inter Milan – 1970/71 Fairs Cup, 2002/03 Champions League

Borussia Dortmund – 2023/24 Champions League

Barcelona – 1997/98 Champions League, 2002/03 Champions League

Pot Two

Bayer Leverkusen – 2002/03 Champions League

Benfica – 2012/13 Europa League

Juventus – 2002/03 Champions League

Club Brugge – 2012/13 Europa League

Eintracht Frankfurt – 2006/07 UEFA Cup Group game (one away match)

Pot Three

PSV – 1997/98 Champions League, 2003/04 UEFA Cup

Marseille – 2003/04 UEFA Cup

Olympiakos – 2004/05 UEFA Cup

Sporting Lisbon – 1968/69 Fairs Cup, 2004/05 UEFA Cup Group game (one home match), 2004/05 UEFA Cup home and away in knockout stage as well

Pot Four

Monaco – 1996/97 UEFA Cup

Athletic Bilbao – 1994/95 UEFA Cup

Potential new opponents

As you can see, in pot one there are three Premier League clubs and four from other countries that Newcastle have played before. Only Real Madrid and Bayern Munich would be two new opponents.

Then in pot two, one PL club and five from overseas that NUFC have faced before. Which leaves only Villarreal, Atletico Madrid and Atalanta as potential new opponents.

Pot three a similar story, one PL team and five from abroad. That leaving Ajax, Napoli and Slavia Praha as new opponents.

Whilst pot four has six potential never played against in European competition, those being Kairat Almaty, Pafos, Galatasaray, Qarabag, Copenhagen and Union Saint-Gilloise.

This European story set to be extended further this season, hopefully beyond the league stage, AND in future years.