The Newcastle United football club is embarking on a historic journey to Baku, Azerbaijan, for their Champions League playoff against Qarabag. This trip is not only a record-breaking 2,529-mile expedition, but it also presents a unique challenge for the players and fans alike. The journey will take approximately five and a half hours by flight, but for supporters, it's a significantly longer endeavor, with no direct flights available. Driving from Newcastle to Baku would take around 60 hours, making it the most extreme journey an English team has ever undertaken in the Champions League.
This record-breaking trip is not just about the distance; it's also about the impact it will have on the players. Long journeys are often viewed as a major negative, with teams wanting to avoid them as much as possible. Playing after such a long trip, with a significant time difference, is considered a considerable extra challenge. However, the quality of the opposition is a bigger consideration. Qarabag, while not to be underestimated, has had its fair share of losses this season, including a 6-0 defeat to Liverpool and a 4-2 loss to Ajax.
History tells us that teams from bigger European leagues don't tend to struggle even after the longest journeys, presumably due to the (low) quality of the opposition. Six away trips to Kazakhstan or Azerbaijan in Champions League history have been longer than Newcastle's upcoming journey, and in those six games, the away side has never lost, winning three and drawing three. This provides some hope for Newcastle fans, who might be wondering what impact such a lengthy trip will have on their players.
However, the challenge that faces them is more than just a very, very, very long journey. The priority will be to fly back from Baku with a positive result to take into the second leg. Qarabag are no pushovers on home soil, and Chelsea's 2-2 draw there in November this season should provide a cautionary tale for Eddie Howe and his men. It's a tough ask, but with the right preparation and mindset, Newcastle might just be able to shake off the effects of their long journey and come out on top.
