Newcastle Hub: Europa League Preview: Newcastle United v Benfica

Sky Bet

£10 Free Bet
- Sky Bet are offering all new customers a £10 Free Bet Claim your free bet now

Newcastle have it all to do as their Europa League quarter-final clash with Benfica heads to St James' Park.

The Magpies slipped to a 3-1 defeat on Portuguese soil in the first leg of their last-eight encounter.

Alan Pardew's side took the lead in that game, but were unable to prevent Benfica from hitting back to claim a commanding lead.

Newcastle will look to make the most of the away goal they grabbed in Lisbon, with a 2-0 win good enough to see them through.

Benfica are, however, a side full of confidence and they will arrive in England in optimistic mood.

Jorge Jesus' side sit top of their domestic division, four points clear at the summit and yet to suffer a league defeat all season.

They have come unstuck just three times in all competitions this term and head to Tyneside on the back of eight straight victories.

Benfica have also found the target 107 times already this season, suggesting that Newcastle will have their work cut out in their bid to claim a clean sheet.Hatem Ben Arfa is in line to play a cameo role for Newcastle in midweek.

The France international is back in training despite having previously been ruled out for the rest of the season with a long-term hamstring problem.

However, central defender Steven Taylor is out with a knee injury and joins Fabricio Coloccini (back), Davide Santon and Cheick Tiote (both hamstring) and the ineligible Mathieu Debuchy and Yoan Gouffran on the sidelines.