Newcastle United head into Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Bayer Leverkusen knowing they will be tested by their opponents.
Leverkusen sit 17th in the league-phase table on eight points after a mixed run of results that briefly hinted at momentum but never developed into anything consistent.
They are fourth in the Bundesliga with 23 points, but their defensive issues have resurfaced at key moments and kept them from moving higher in the table.
Newcastle will look at that inconsistency and believe they can cause problems if they maintain the discipline that has carried them through a three-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
Their Premier League campaign has been turbulent, but they have shown enough resilience recently to suggest they can steady themselves for a major European test.
However, their last Champions League outing ended in a 2-1 defeat in Marseille, which exposed their lack of control after Harvey Barnes’s early goal faded into the background.
Newcastle cannot afford another setback, especially with the qualification line still tight and points now carrying extra weight for both sides.
Leverkusen will be encouraged by their strong performances at the BayArena under Kasper Hjulmand, although two recent home defeats have highlighted their vulnerabilities.
Newcastle have history on their side after winning both previous meetings between the clubs, scoring three goals on each occasion, but that record will offer no guarantees in Germany.
The visitors may again rely on set-piece precision and counter-attacking moments, given their struggles to create sustained pressure in open play.
Wednesday’s match has become a pivotal test for two sides who have the quality to progress but not the consistency to feel secure.
