Newcastle United are proving they are a competitive Champions League side as they look to make further progress in Europe’s top leagues.
Four wins and two draws (plus two defeats) were not enough to ensure Eddie Howe’s side finished in the top eight of the league stage, and a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain on the final matchday of the stage meant both teams entered the play-off stages.
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Newcastle United drew with 22nd-placed Qarabag and Azerbaijan almost gave up on their form in the first leg as Anthony Gordon led the Magpies to a 6-1 victory in Baku.
The five-goal gap between the two teams appears to be too much for Qarabag to deal with in the second leg, and with Eddie Howe expected to make a host of changes, the Magpies’ promotion on aggregate should be little more than a formality.
Three wins in their last four games have Newcastle in good form, but are they good enough to beat their opponents in the last 16?
Passing the play-off stages means Newcastle will only face one of two opponents: chelsea or barcelona. The two teams were paired up after finishing fifth and sixth in the league respectively and will be drawn against each other.
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Whichever team ends up facing Newcastle, the other will be up against Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco, with the Champions League holders leading 3-2 after the first leg.
When is the draw?
The draw for the Champions League last 16 will be held in Nyon on Friday 27 February at 11am GMT (12pm local time).
How to watch online
The draw will be broadcast live on the UEFA website, YouTube channel and UEFA Champions League app.
What day is the match?
The round of 16 will be held in mid-March. Here are the remaining round dates:
Round of 16: March 10 and 11 and March 18, 2026
Quarterfinals: April 7, 8 and 14, 15, 2026
Semi-finals: April 28/29 and May 5/6, 2026
Final: May 30, 2026 (Budapest)
