Newcastle United have confirmed their place in next season’s Champions League after drawing 0-0 against Leicester City on Monday night.

Liverpool’s home draw against Aston Villa on Saturday meant that Newcastle needed only a point from their final two Premier League matches to secure a top-four finish and an automatic spot in the group stage of the 2023-24 Champions League.

Newcastle’s best opportunity came towards the end of the first half when Leicester goalkeeper Daniel Iverson spilled the ball into the path of striker Callum Wilson, but the England international failed to hit the target from close range after smashing the left-hand post. 

Miguel Almiron struck the right-hand post moments later after his shot deflected off defender Wout Faes to keep the scoreline level going into the interval. 

Bruno Guimaraes should have broken the deadlock in the 71st minute after a corner took a deflection off Faes towards the head of the Brazilian, but his effort struck the woodwork from close range. 

Leicester came close to snatching the win after a James Maddison cross found Timothy Castagne in the 18-yard box, only for his effort to be comfortably saved by Nick Pope. 

Despite dominating large parts of possession, Newcastle failed to convert any of their chances and came away with a point from the game. 

The result means Newcastle return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2002-03 season when Sir Bobby Robson was manager. The north-east side last played European football in the 2012-13 campaign, reaching the Europa League quarter-finals under Alan Pardew.

Eddie Howe’s side will be joined from the Premier League in Europe’s elite competition next term by champions Manchester City and runners-up Arsenal.

Manchester United will take the other Champions League place if they get a point from their two remaining league matches. Erik ten Hag’s side play Chelsea on Thursday and end their campaign at home against Fulham on Sunday.

More to follow.

What is Champions League qualification worth?

The Athletic’s Dan Sheldon:

UEFA is yet to release its 2022-23 financial report, but the breakdown of the kind of sums a team might earn in the Champions League is detailed in the 2021-22 report.

The European governing body split the €3.5billion (£3.04bn; $3.8bn) generated by all of its club competitions last season.

Those competing in the Champions League shared a pot of €2billion. Twenty-five per cent was distributed evenly between the teams that qualified for the group stage. Thirty per cent was administered according to their 10-year records in Europe. Fifteen per cent was based on the size of their domestic TV markets. The final 30 per cent was linked to their progress in the competition.

Qualification alone to the Champions League group stage, based on this season’s numbers, is worth €15.6million (£13.6m; $17.1m). A club then receives €2.8m per group stage win and €930,000 for a draw.

Champions League 2023-24 key dates

Newcastle will enter next season’s Champions League at the group stage, which runs from September to December:

  • Matchday 1: September 19/20 2023
  • Matchday 2: October 3/4 2023
  • Matchday 3: October 24/25 2023
  • Matchday 4: November 7/8 2023
  • Matchday 5: November 28/29 2023
  • Matchday 6: December 12/13 2023

The date for the draw and the full line-up of teams involved have not yet been confirmed, but last season’s draw took place at the end of August.

The competition will conclude at Wembley on June 1, 2024.

GO DEEPER

Newcastle’s return to Europe will not be easy – coefficients explained

(Photo: Getty Images)

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