Played
March 7, 2013 10:30 PM IST
Olimpiyskiy stadion Luzhniki — Moskva
Referee:‬ I. Vad‎
Attendance:‬ 9948‎
 

Anzhi - Newcastle Preview: Magpies set for tough test against big-spending Russians

Alan Pardew's side will be looking to take a first-leg lead back to St James' Park but will have to work hard against Guus Hiddink's high-flyers

By Nicholas McGee

More On :  Anzhi Makhachkala, Newcastle, Anzhi Makhachkala vs Newcastle
EPL - Newcastle United v Chelsea, Jonas Gutierrez
Getty

Anzhi have no new injury worries and go into the game with a full squad of players to choose from, with superstars such as Willian, Samuel Eto'o and Lassana Diarra all set to play from the start.
Don't Miss

Newcastle could welcome back Hatem Ben Arfa (hamstring), but Fabricio Coloccini (back) has been ruled out by manager Alan Pardew while Papiss Cisse was not part of the 19-man squad.

Ryan Taylor (knee) is close to recovery, however he is unlikely to return to action until the end of the month.

Tim Krul (ankle) remains on the sidelines after picking up an injury in the last round against Metalist Kharkiv and Steve Harper's absence with a knee injury means Rob Elliot will continue in goal.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Newcastle have faced Anzhi star Samuel Eto'o in European competition before, the Cameroonian was part of the Real Mallorca side that suffered a 7-1 aggregate Uefa Cup loss to the Magpies in 2004.
  • Shola Ameobi (pictured right) played in the second leg of that tie and will move level with Alan Shearer on 38 European appearances for Newcastle if the plays in both legs of this tie.
  • The Magpies have beaten a Guus Hiddink side in the past, as they overcame PSV Eindhoven over two legs in the quarter-finals of the 2003-04 Uefa Cup before losing to Marseille in the next round.
  • Anzhi have won all seven of their Europa League home games this season, scoring 12 times and conceding just once.
  • Hiddink's side have only lost twice in their domestic league this term, with defeats against Rubin Kazan and CSKA Moscow both coming away from home.
  • As a football club, Anzhi are 99 years younger than Newcastle, having only been formed in 1991.
  • This tie marks the first time that Newcastle have faced Russian opposition in European competition.

Follow Goal.com on Twitter

Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Anzhi Makhachkala 2-0 Newcastle
    18.23 %
  • Anzhi Makhachkala 2-1 Newcastle
    14.71 %
  • Anzhi Makhachkala 1-2 Newcastle
    9.47 %
Head to Head
Europa League ‎(EL)‎ 15-Mar-2013 Newcastle 1 - Anzhi Makhachkala 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Europa League ‎(EL)‎ 07-Mar-2013 Anzhi Makhachkala 0 - Newcastle 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Anzhi Makhachkala
20-May-2013Anzhi Makhachkala 2 - Lokomotiv Moscow 1RUS1
12-May-2013Terek 1 - Anzhi Makhachkala 0RUS1
04-May-2013Anzhi Makhachkala 2 - Rubin 1RUS1
28-Apr-2013Spartak 2 - Anzhi Makhachkala 0RUS1
21-Apr-2013Anzhi Makhachkala 3 - Dinamo Moscow 3RUS1
Newcastle
19-May-2013Newcastle 0 - Arsenal 1EPL
12-May-2013QPR 1 - Newcastle 2EPL
04-May-2013West Ham 0 - Newcastle 0EPL
27-Apr-2013Newcastle 0 - Liverpool 6EPL
20-Apr-2013West Bromwich 1 - Newcastle 1EPL
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
1Vladimir GabulovGoalkeeper
28Andrey EschenkoDefender
5Joao Carlos Pinto ChavesDefender
37EwertonDefender
8JucileiMidfielder
14Oleg ShatovMidfielder
18Yuri ZhirkovMidfielder
25Odil AkhmedovMidfielder
85Lassana DiarraMidfielder
22WillianMidfielder
9Eto'oStriker
22Evgeny PomazanGoalkeeper
3Ali GadzhibekovDefender
13Rasim TagirbekovDefender
15Arseniy LogashovDefender
16M. CarcelaMidfielder
19Lacina TraoreStriker
20Fedor SmolovStriker
21Rob ElliotGoalkeeper
5Danny SimpsonDefender
3Mapou YangambiwaDefender
14James PerchMidfielder
17Massadio HaidaraDefender
4Yohan CabayeMidfielder
22Moussa SissokoMidfielder
8Vurnon AnitaDefender
10Hatem Ben ArfaMidfielder
22Sylvain MarveauxMidfielder
25Gabriel ObertanStriker
42Jak AlnwickGoalkeeper
3Davide SantonDefender
27Steven TaylorDefender
20Gael BigirimanaMidfielder
24Cheikh TioteMidfielder
23Shola AmeobiStriker
49Adam CampbellStriker
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Libor Kozák Libor Kozák
Striker
Lazio 		10 0
Ó. Cardozo Ó. Cardozo
Striker
Benfica 		8 3
Rodrigo Palacio Rodrigo Palacio
Striker
Inter 		8 0
Eto'o Eto'o
Striker
Anzhi 		7 2
Edinson Cavani Edinson Cavani
Striker
Napoli 		7 2