Newcastle United, Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen
This is the second instalment in our Champions League preview series, and attention now turns to Newcastle United’s Pot 2 opponents. While the glamour ties against Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain will inevitably capture headlines, it is often these middle-tier fixtures that shape a campaign. The Magpies’ encounters with Benfica at St James’ Park in October and Bayer Leverkusen in Germany in December are the sort of matches that will go a long way in determining whether this European adventure extends into the knockout stages.
Bayer Leverkusen: From Nearly Men to Relentless Contenders
Few clubs embody reinvention quite like Bayer Leverkusen. For decades they were defined by what they almost achieved: the Bundesliga titles that slipped away, the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in 2002, the cruel nickname Neverkusen. That perception shifted dramatically under Xabi Alonso. His side stormed through the 2023–24 season unbeaten until the very last week, lifted the Bundesliga for the first time in their history, and reached the Europa League final in the process.
Though they eventually lost their “Neverlusen” tag in defeat to Atalanta, Alonso’s team established themselves as one of Europe’s most compelling projects. A balanced squad blended the exuberance of emerging stars with the seasoned know-how of figures like Lucas Vázquez, recruited from Real Madrid. Their football combined precision, structure, and intensity; they became a team capable of suffocating opponents without losing attacking edge.
For Newcastle, the December trip to the BayArena suddenly looks far less daunting than it might have a year ago. Bayer Leverkusen, once the model of tactical precision and resilience under Xabi Alonso, are now a club in disarray. The summer exodus stripped them of several key players, while the gamble on Erik ten Hag unravelled almost instantly, his dismissal after just two league matches leaving the side rudderless. The aura of invincibility that carried them through their historic unbeaten run has evaporated, replaced by uncertainty and a restless home crowd.
What once promised to be one of Newcastle’s sternest examinations abroad now feels like an opportunity. Leverkusen are vulnerable, their cohesion fractured. A victory in Germany would not only strengthen Newcastle’s position in the league phase but also signal that they are capable of seizing on weakness when it appears, an essential trait for any side with ambitions of going deep in this competition.
Benfica: Tradition, Weight of History, and a Curse That Lingers
If Leverkusen represent the new face of European ambition, Benfica embody the weight of tradition. The Lisbon giants have twice lifted the European Cup, in 1961 and 1962, led then by the immortal Eusébio. Yet ever since, they have been stalked by misfortune, losing a remarkable seven continental finals, most recently in 2013. The so-called Béla Guttmann curse may be folklore, but Benfica’s barren run in Europe is an indelible part of their story.
What is undeniable is their consistency. No Portuguese club has come close to matching their domestic dominance, and in Europe they remain ever-present. With 42 participations in the European Cup or Champions League, Benfica trail only Real Madrid in appearances. They know how to navigate these nights, how to control tempo, how to exploit even the faintest whiff of weakness.
When they arrive at St James’ Park in October, Newcastle will be confronted not just by a team, but by the accumulated weight of continental experience. Benfica have travelled this road too many times to be intimidated, and their savvy in tight matches often makes the difference. For Eddie Howe’s side, the challenge will be to impose themselves early, feed off the fervour of the home crowd, and deny their opponents the chance to settle into familiar European rhythms.
Setting the Tone
These two fixtures may lack the instant glamour of Barcelona or PSG, but they could ultimately prove just as significant. To emerge from the league phase, Newcastle must prove they can out-think as well as out-fight. A win against Benfica at St James’ Park would inject momentum and belief; a positive result away to Leverkusen in December would underline that this is a side capable of competing with Europe’s most in-form teams.
In the end, Champions League campaigns are shaped not only by nights of glory against giants, but by how a team navigates the nuanced challenges posed by seasoned continental operators. Benfica and Leverkusen are exactly that. For Newcastle, these matches are opportunities to demonstrate growth, to measure themselves against two very different, but equally formidable, traditions of European football.
They may not define the romance of the season, but they could define its outcome.
