Why Newcastle can fly into the Champions League's top eight ahead of final three games

The Champions League opening phase is reaching the stage where the league table comes into play and teams look to book their place in the competition's round of 16. 

Only the top eight qualify for the knockouts automatically, with the next set of teams put into a play-off, adding two more games to an already packed season ahead of an expanded World Cup finals next summer. 

Therefore, making it through automatically becomes all the more important, and for Newcastle United, they have an opportunity over the next three games to make sure they are part of that pack. 

First up, Leverkusen 

Ahead of Matchday Six, the Magpies sit just outside the dotted line in the table, one point off the top eight, having endured a disappointing loss to Marseille last time out. 

However, prior to that defeat, some of the club's best performances this season have come in this competition, with impressive wins over Union-SG, Athletic Club and Benfica.

TheY were even the better team for most of the game against Barcelona, until Marcus Rashford got the Spaniards out of jail with a matchwinning brace.

Next up sees a trip to Bayer Leverkusen, which on paper brings its own concerns, but one given the run that Newcastle are now on, could be seen as an opportunity to springboard into contention for the knockouts. 

The Magpies are unbeaten in four games in the Premier League and come into the Leverkusen clash off the back of a win over Burnley at the weekend. 

Their opponents, meanwhile, may have beaten a second-string Manchester City in their last Champions League outing, but have lost back-to-back games in the Bundesliga. 

In Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade they have men in form and scoring goals on both fronts, while this week also saw Yoane Wissa finally make his debut for the club following his summer move from Brentford, who could make a difference in the final matches of the league phase. 

In Germany, those players, most notably in the wide areas, will be key on the break and Eddie Howe's team should get enough opportunities to exploit the space and use their pace to get at a Leverkusen team who have shown they can leak goals this season. 

(Getty Images)

Hail Howe 

Howe is an important factor, because he continues to break barriers with Newcastle, and speaking exclusively to DAZN News, thanks to Analysis of the best sports betting options in Denmark, former Toon defender Stephen Carr cannot speak highly enough of the current boss. 

"Eddie Howe has done unbelievably with them," he said. 

"What he's done with them since he's been there is phenomenal. Alexander Isak went, who was the main player last year, yet I think the team's done unbelievably with it." 

In fact, the only concern Carr has with his old club this season, as they continue to battle on both fronts, is the squad size; even so, he's still predicting a strong campaign for the Tynesiders. 

Carr added: "The only problem for them is,  do they have a big enough squad to keep competing to try to get into the Champions League again and be in the Champions League and another Cup?

"I don't think a squad is that huge in different areas. So I think it's about players staying fit, no injuries, suspensions. 

"If they got to the top six, I think it would be very good for them, to be honest." 
 

Before they can think about long-term aims, the focus will be on Leverkusen and then the final two Champions League games, which are at home to PSV and then finishing in Paris against the European Champions. 

PSV is a game that shouldn't faze them, especially if they get a positive result in Germany tonight. St James' Park will be rocking once again and it could be the game that seals their place in that critical top eight. 

Then, it's a straight shootout with PSG, which, given the array of attacking talent on both sides, could end up in a glut of goals. 

However, before we can enjoy that meeting,  the job in hand for Newcastle is clear, and it starts with a win in Germany to really get the Magpies soaring again in Europe's premier competition. 
 

Full Champions League fixture list for Round 6

Wednesday, 10 December 

• Qarabag FK vs Ajax
• Villareal vs FC København
• Athletic Club vs PSG
• Leverkusen vs Newcastle
• Benfica vs Napoli
• Dortmund vs Bodø/Glimt
• Club Brugge vs Arsenal
• Juventus vs Pafos FC
• Real Madrid vs Man City

How to watch the Champions League in the USA on DAZN 

Soccer fans in the US can watch selected Champions League matches as part of their DAZN subscription package, in Spanish language.

For each match week, DAZN will have exclusive coverage of the top three pick games, including the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool, and PSG, in Spanish. Click here to see which games are available on DAZN.

An annual subscription costs $19.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.

CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.

Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.

How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN 

Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.

An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.

How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN

Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription. 

There are three subscription options, offering differing selections of sports in each. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)