As a fairly frequent visitor to Lisbon and someone with friends in the Portuguese capital, Alan Pardew has regarded previous trips to the Estadio da Luz to watch a Benfica side coached by a man named Jesus as almost akin to mini-pilgrimages.

Newcastle United’s manager particularly enjoys watching the eagle which sits on the roof, then circles the stands just before kick-off at every home game. “It’s a fantastic spectacle,” he enthused. “And this ground is a terrific place to watch football.”

Standing in the technical area as his team play Jorge Jesus’s side in tonight’s Europa League quarter-final will be a rather different proposition from simply admiring the magnificent statue of Eusebio outside the ground before enjoying the view from the posh seats, though. After winning 20 and drawing four of their Portuguese League fixtures, Benfica sit comfortably, formidably on top of their domestic table.

Happily for Newcastle fans, Pardew is not the type to be easily daunted by their compelling brand of tiki-taka. "There's never a mission impossible in football," he said. "We can get a good result here. And at St James' Park we can beat anybody. It will be difficult but we have no doubt we can beat Benfica at St James'.''

Losing position
Not that Pardew wants to be kicking off the return from a losing position – or even a goalless draw, which would mean the Portuguese side would require only a scoring draw to progress to the semi-final on away goals.

Pardew has been briefed about Jesus’s team by Neil Lennon, whose Celtic side faced them in the Champions League earlier this season as well as his friend Andre Villas-Boas, Tottenham’s Portuguese manager. “I know this city quite well and I’ve got some contacts here too, so we’re well briefed,” he said.

Although Newcastle will again be without the injured Hatem Ben Arfa, Fabricio Coloccini and Cheik Tiote, Tim Krul, who turned 25 yesterday, has recovered from an ankle injury and will return in goal. If he can help keep Oscar Cardozo, Benfica's key striker, and friends at bay Krul will surely remember it as a very happy birthday.
Guardian Service