Newcastle United's best and worst scenario in…

Newcastle United's best and worst scenario in Champions League group stage draw

For the first time in 20 years Newcastle United will be participating in Europe's premier footballing competition once again. The idea of historic nights in the Champions League are already proving to be exciting for Eddie Howe's current crop and the fanbase who has followed them home and away during a memorable campaign over the last nine months.

While the Champions League group stage draw doesn't take place for a number of months, speculation has already turned to who Newcastle could be playing in the competition from September onwards. Howe will no doubt relish any of the sides available but for the Magpies faithful there are dreams of grand nights at the Bernabeu or Nou Camp.

Some supporters will undoubtedly want an easier group to give Newcastle a better chance of qualification, while others will want to come up against the competition's biggest sides. But who could Newcastle realistically face?

Chronicle Live has taken a deep dive into the European seedings to assess what would be the best and worst case scenario in terms of Newcastle's hopes of going deep into the competition.

Newcastle in pot four

Newcastle are among one of the lowest-ranked sides to currently qualify for the Champions League due to their lengthy absence from the competition, meaning Howe's men will be placed into pot four for the group stage draw. They will be joined by Union Berlin of Germany, RC Lens of France, Scottish champions Celtic and La Liga side Real Sociedad.

The likes of Galatasaray (Turkey), Young Boys (Switzerland) or Copenhagen (Denmark) could make up the remaining three spots should they qualify in the coming weeks. Newcastle cannot play any of these clubs in the group stage.

The worst case scenario?

It's important to stress that this scenario would arguably be the worst for Newcastle's hopes of reaching the latter stages, while also simultaneously giving the north east outfit a group stage to remember.

Drawing Bayern Munich from pot one, last year's winners Real Madrid from pot two and AC Milan from pot three would represent a huge challenge for Newcastle's current crop of players. Trips to the Allianz Arena, Bernabeu and San Siro would certainly be welcomed but it would be some ask for the Magpies to progress against some of the competition's seasoned veterans.

PSG, Napoli and Barcelona are also in pot one after winning their respective leagues, while Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan reside in pot two.

The best chance of going through?

Despite being placed in pot four, there's still a realistic chance Newcastle get a winnable group on paper. For example, the best case scenario would be drawing Dutch champions Feyenoord from pot one, Portuguese legends Porto from pot two and Serbian outfit Red Star Belgrade from pot three.

Three teams with huge European experience but a trio of clubs you would also expect Newcastle to fare well against. Other reasonable alternatives come in the form of whoever wins the Europa League between Sevilla and Roma in pot one, RB Leipzig in pot two and Shakhtar Donetsk, Salzburg or potentially Rangers in pot three.

Who can Newcastle not face?

As mentioned earlier, Newcastle can't face any of their fellow pot four teams, meaning Celtic, Union Berlin, RC Lens, Real Sociedad and the three remaining teams are all ruled out.

The Magpies also cannot be in the same group as any of the Premier League rivals. This means they won't come up against Manchester City, Manchester United or Arsenal until the latter rounds of the competition, if at all.

Despite not being able to face Celtic, should Rangers qualify in pot three, a trip to Ibrox would be possible. The Gers are yet to secure their place and must win their qualifier over the summer.

Newcastle United's best and worst scenario in Champions League group stage draw

Newcastle in pot four

The worst case scenario?

The best chance of going through?

Who can Newcastle not face?

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