Newcastle’s curious love-hate relationship with this season’s Europa League continues with a trip to face in-form Benfica. Despite the Toon’s impressive run in the competition, manager Alan Pardew lambasted the packed schedule following the club’s heavy 4-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City last weekend. Newcastle have suffered badly with injury worries throughout the season, and Pardew blamed the ongoing fitness crisis at St James’ Park directly on their continued participation in this competition.
Those injury struggles have seen Newcastle struggle considerably in domestic competition, and Newcastle currently sit just three points above the dreaded relegation zone. In stark contrast, their opponents are enjoying a prosperous campaign. As well as progressing to the Europa League quarter-finals, Jorge Jesus’ men currently occupy top spot in the Portuguese Primeira Liga and have also reached the semi-finals of their domestic cup competition.
Benfica have netted an impressive 102 goals already this term, six of which came during their thrashing of Rio Ave on Saturday, and Paraguayan frontman Oscar Cardozo has been in lethal form of late, scoring three in his last four outings.