A Look at Newcastle’s European Draw

Newcastle fans can start planning European adventures to France, Belgium and Portugal in the coming weeks as the club discovered their fate in the group stages of the Europa League. Drawn alongside Bordeaux, Club Brugge and Maritimo, they face a tough assignments but it is an obstacle which is definitely passable.

Here, we’ll take a quick look at what Newcastle can expect to face on the coming Thursday night’s throughout the Autumn and Winter.

Bordeaux (Matchday 2 and 6)

The Magpies face Bordeaux on the second match day, and the final one, starting with the home fixture. The French side are no longer the force they were under Laurent Blanc, when they reached a Champions League quarter-final and very
narrowly lost out to Lyon, yet they still possess quality in their ranks. A 5 th placed finish in the domestic league last season, like Newcastle, means they will be a good side, and two main players to watch out for our ex Manchester United
winger/striker David Bellion and their Czech skipper Plasil.

Club Brugge (Matchday 3 and 4)

The Toon will face back to back European games against Club Brugge, a team with a respectable pedigree in these competitions. UEFA Cup finalists in 1976,they finished 2nd in their domestic league which places them in Europe’s second tier again. One to watch out for though.

Maritimo (Matchday 1 and 5)

On paper the weakest side of the group, but that by no means makes them weak. A group of Brazilian stars will make life tough for Newcastle, but this surely must be earmarked as six points if progression is to be achieved.

Whatever happens, it’s sure to be an enjoyable sojourn in Europe’s second tier competition. It was a fantastic achievement to get here in the first place, but now Newcastle are here, they will want to make their mark.

Harry Aitkenhead