Newcastle United have been drawn against Azerbaijani club Qarabag FK in the Champions League knockout phase play-offs. The draw took place today, Friday, January 30, at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. This stage features teams ranked ninth to 24th from the league phase, battling for a place in the last 16.
The two-legged tie will determine which club progresses to the Champions League last 16. The first leg is scheduled for February 17 or 18, with the return leg on February 24 or 25.
As a seeded team, Newcastle will travel to Azerbaijan for the initial match, before hosting Qarabag at St James' Park for the decisive second leg. The away fixture involves a significant 5,000-mile round trip for the Magpies. Should Newcastle advance, they could face either Barcelona or Chelsea in the next round, with the last 16 draw set for February 27.
