Eddie Howe’s side have one foot firmly in the last 16 of this season’s competition
Newcastle United players celebrate with Anthony Gordon in the 6-1 win against Qarabag(Image: Elmir Karimov/Shutterstock)
Newcastle United can ‘hurt’ any side left in this season’s Champions League, as they look to go deeper into the tournament following their stunning win in midweek.
Eddie Howe’s side romped to a 6-1 victory over Azerbaijan side Qarabag on Wednesday night, with their progression into the last 16 all-but assured ahead of the second leg on Tyneside next Tuesday night.
Barring a miracle from the visitors, United will book their place against either Chelsea or Barcelona in the last 16 of the competition, with the draw made next Friday.
They will join the five other Premier League sides in the latter stages of the Champions League, and former Manchester United and France striker Louis Saha feels they capable of pulling off more shock results.
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“Newcastle have the capability to hurt any team, and I think they have shown that at their best that they can be a real contender in the Champions League,” he told CasinoHawks. “Newcastle will have a desire to go a long way.
“The target is not just this year, it’s to really establish them and be a force. It’s only 10 years ago that they were in the Championship
“We also have to remember that they have really improved, and they’ve done really well, which we should not forget. I do think that lifting a trophy was amazing for them.
“Now the target will be about the Champions League, they have beaten PSG in the past and other big sides, they can surprise the biggest teams in Europe.
“It’s so difficult to predict the Champions League but if they play at their best level, they could be the big surprise this season.”
Saha had a brief spell at Newcastle on loan in 1999, before enjoying a long Premier League career which saw him star for the likes of Man United, Fulham, Everton, Tottenham and Sunderland.
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