Benfica v Newcastle United - Europa League Quarter Final - Official Matchday Thread

MOUSSA Sissoko says Newcastle United believe they can beat anyone left in the Europa League.

United touched down in Lisbon ahead of tomorrow night’s first leg tie against Portuguese giants Benfica, a team Sissoko believes are one of the best in Europe.

The travelling party included Tim Krul, who is set to make a rapid return in goal for United as they prepare to unleash their big guns for arguably their toughest assignment of the Europa League so far.

Also on the plane were teenager Adam Campbell, Shola Ameobi and Mike Williamson – who has barely figured in Alan Pardew’s first-team plans since the January addition of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

Gael Bigirimana also travelled but it is a squad underscored by experience and established players which will be sent out with the aim of trying to keep the tie as competitive as possible ahead of next week’s return leg.

Whether the Tynesiders can beat Benfica is a matter of debate.

However, Pardew has backed up his weekend assurance Newcastle would not allow their focus to drop despite being

dragged back into relegation trouble. To be fair, United will need to be at their very best to fend off the challenge of a strong Benfica, who impressed Sissoko.

They have the pedigree to back up Sissoko’s assertion they are the best side left in the competition, but for all that Newcastle will give their opponents respect they do not intend to be timid travellers.

United’s poor performance on Saturday might have plunged them back into relegation trouble, but their away form in the Europa League has been the main driving force behind their run into the last eight.

Newcastle have kept four clean sheets in the knockout stages and stand to set a Europa League record if they notch a fifth clean sheet in succession tomorrow.

Sissoko says the team are powered by the belief they can win the competition outright.

The former Tolouse man said: “I’m very happy to still be involved in the Europa League at the quarter-final stage.

“I was fortunate enough to play in it with my former club.

“As a player you want to be involved at European level – especially in the later stages – but we are taking each match as it comes.

“The competition gets really interesting when it’s down to its closing stages. It’s exciting for all of us.

“Of course we want to do as well as we can but there are great teams left – and I include Benfica among them.

“There are also Chelsea and Tottenham, but we are capable of beating any of them.”

It is some claim from Sissoko, who is going into tomorrow’s game with his eyes open.

He added: “Benfica are a great team. Year in, year out, they finish first or second in the Portuguese league and are regulars in the Champions League.

“They have quality players and it will be a very difficult match for us.”

There is confidence in United’s camp, however. Sissoko (below) said: “I played against Benfica for Toulouse in a friendly – I know what great players they have.

“I am well aware of the history of the club.

“However, in football anything is possible.”



Read more: Journal Live http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/n...ited-are-not-scared-of-anyone-61634-33108340/

 

3800 tickets have been sold for our end. looks like we will have cracking support.

 

Regretting not being one of them now

 

Hopefully it will be one of those 'where were you' nights.... here's hoping.

 

A lot of the guys at the Wigan and Man City games will be there, I hope they get a bit better fayre served up than they did at those two.

 

Wish it was thursday already, really cant wait for this match - Next week is gna be unbearable if we get a result here.

 

It will be a cracker

 

We will lose 2-0, sorry to sound like you know how.

 

It's no good Mr T, we know it's you.

 

Wasn't he well constricted?

 

Any result less than 3-0 in my opinion would be manageable. We've shown at SJP we can beat anyone. Cannot wait!

 

.

 

I'm gonna have to change this name again to get Mr T back aren't I?

 

come on lads!!!

 

Its matchday (just) so can I be the first of the day to say, come on the toon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ho'way the lads.

 

I would bite hands off now for a 2-1 loss tbh! That's a deceptively good European away leg result to a team like Benfica and I fear it's the very best we can hope for.

Especially with that line-up, which is no worse than most we can field but looks very lightweight defensively in midfield.

Lose by two or three and fail to score though and let's forget the second leg for Premier survival...

 

I see Pardew has been his hardest to give Benfica some extra competition by claiming they'd be 'top 8 or 10 in the premier league'. Apparently it's got fans, manager and Portuguese media up in arms.

This lass is angry.

 

morning all.... iiiiiiiiiittttttttttt'ssssssssss matchday!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

**** it I'd rather we got up their noses than a meek folding like at Citeh.

How do you know she is angry, we can't see her bottom half? Phnar phnar