My people, e don land! Newcastle United don waka go Baku, ready to face Qarabağ for their Champions League playoff first leg this Wednesday. Na serious matter wey dey ground, as di boys wan secure their spot for di round of 16. Remember say dem finish di league phase for 12th position, but dem no wan make am stop dem for dis journey!
As we sabi, Qarabağ no be small team, dem don surprise everybody wey no expect dem to dey here. Dem come from one match wey dem take beat Eintracht Frankfurt to seal their playoff position, and dem dey prepare like say dem go enter di final. But no worry, Newcastle dey ready to show dem say na dem be di Magpies!
Di gaffer, Eddie Howe, don plan correct tactics. Even though dem no too shine for away games dis season, dem fit put pressure for di ground wey dem sabi do am well. Dem don manage hold their own against big boys like PSG and Tottenham, so Qarabağ no suppose take dem lightly. Season for English shores no too kindo for Qarabağ, Chelsea don check dem before, so na wetin dem go carry come for Baku?
As dem face each other for di first time in Champions League knockout rounds, everybody dey expect say match go hot. Di Qarabağ players dey fit, but dem get some players wey dey walk tightrope. If dem collect yellow card, dem go miss di return leg, and dem no fit afford am. But hope dey for di main men, Camilo Durán and Leandro Andrade, as dem dey shine like stars!
But for Newcastle side, na wah o! Bruno Guimarães don go down with injury, leaving dem missing key man for di midfield. Sandro Tonali don step up, but Howe go need other players like Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock to back am up. With all dis injuries, e go tough for di Magpies, but dem dey in form and no wan spoil their chances for Champions League.
Match dey scheduled for 17:45 UK time, I go not make anybody forget! As Newcastle dey waka almost 2,529 miles come Baku, dis go be one of di longest trips wey English team don ever take for Champions League wey make everybody dey scratch di head. But as dem don play one or two away matches successfully, dem go just need to hold firm if dem wan carry victory back home.
Kai, dis fixture fit shake plenty predictions. Newcastle dey carry 89% chance to progress to di next stage, but dem no fit slack for dis first leg. Qarabağ get 15% chance to win di match, but Newcastle fit draw di match without any wahala. Na win dey sweet but we go see how e go play out on di pitch, abi? You know say, for football, anything fit happen!
Make we dey watch and see how di match go unfold, but one thing dey sure: fans go gather for di joint, chop popcorn, dey enjoy di beautiful game!
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