Newcastle Drawn Into Favorable Group for Europa

Newcastle United were drawn into Group D in the Europa League Friday, joining Bordeaux, Club Brugge, and Maritimo. It's a very travel-friendly group, which is not a small consideration given how congested their fixture list is about to become. Several spots in the calendar will be incredibly tight, and not having to fly to Ukraine, for example, is huge.

Competitively, Newcastle were handed one of the most favorable draws one could ask for. Bordeaux and Brugge were considered to be among the weaker teams in their respective pots, and Maritimo is not generally expected to play the role of major spoiler. These are teams that should make Alan Pardew relatively comfortable when he runs out his younger players. In short: If Newcastle do not advance, it will be a disappointment.

FIXTURES UPDATED 1600 BST:

September 20 - Away at Maritimo

Newcastle travel to Everton on the 17th, then host Norwich City on the 22nd and travel to Old Trafford for their League Cup match 2 days after.

October 4 - Bordeaux at home

Newcastle travel to Reading September 29, then host Manchester United on the 7th.

October 25 - Club Brugge at home

The first (away) leg of the Tyne-Wear Derby takes place on the 21st, then the Toon host West Bromwich Albion on the 27th.

November 8 - Club Brugge away

Liverpool (away) on the 4th; West Ham (home) on the 10th.

November 22 - Maritimo at home

Swans at SJP on the 17th, then Southampton away on the 24th and Stoke City away on the 27th. Please let this one be a home match. EDIT: And it is. Hooray!

December 6 - Bordeaux away

Wigan Athletic at home on the 1st, then Fulham at Craven Cottage on the 8th.

We'll update the fixture list as soon as possible. Stay tuned to CHN for thorough previews of each of Newcastle's Europa League opponents.