"One of the key themes throughout this Champions League campaign for Newcastle has been the ease with which they've dispatched perceived 'lesser' opponents, particularly at home. They'd scored eight goals in three games against Benfica, who Qarabag also beat in their opening game, Athletic Club and PSV Eindhoven."
"Accusations of diluting the competition have been thrust in UEFA's direction since the new format came into play last season. They'll only get louder watching how Newcastle dismantled Qarabag, first in Azerbaijan and then back home, where Sandro Tonali and Joelinton each scored in the opening minutes."
"It never felt like a normal matchday. There was no hum of anticipation in the city centre two or three hours before kick off, and the nervous energy which has driven St James' Park on some of the best occasions under Eddie Howe wasn't in the air."
Newcastle United progressed to the Champions League last 16 after dismantling Qarabag across two legs. The first match in Baku lacked the typical matchday atmosphere, with Newcastle effectively deciding the tie within seven minutes. By halftime, the second leg at St James' Park was predetermined to be a formality. Newcastle's campaign has been characterized by dominant performances against perceived weaker opponents, including eight goals in three games against Benfica, Athletic Club, and PSV Eindhoven. Manager Eddie Howe maintained appropriate pre-match rhetoric about the tie remaining competitive, though his team selection suggested otherwise. Newcastle's comprehensive victory has fueled ongoing criticism of UEFA's new Champions League format for potentially diluting competition quality.
Read at www.fourfourtwo.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]