Newcastle United must support Premier League rival to guarantee Europa League football

Newcastle United’s path to the Europa League has simplified following the latest round of FA Cup fixtures. 

A below-par Manchester City edged out Chelsea, booking their place in the final for consecutive seasons. Manchester United - albeit fortunately - beat Coventry City on penalties after a controversial 120th-minute winner for the Sky Blues was disallowed.

A repeat of last year’s final awaits, with the Red Devils aiming to avenge a 2-1 loss that helped City on their way to a historic treble. Newcastle fans also have an invested interest given their European ambitions.

English clubs crashing out of the Champions League and Europa League threw a spanner in the works. Premier League teams are now unlikely to be granted an extra place via UEFA’s coefficient system and, with it, complicating Newcastle’s possibilities.

However, the FA Cup has clarified what the Magpies must do - and hope for - from now until May. NewcastleWorld has profiled the permutations for Eddie Howe and Co.

Europa League

As it stands, fifth spot and the FA Cup winner - just as it was at the start of the season - will ensure Europa League qualification. With Tottenham Hotspur boasting a 10-point lead over Newcastle and just six games remaining, finishing fifth appears unlikely.

A more plausible scenario would be for Newcastle to finish sixth and Man City to win the FA Cup. Pep Guardiola’s side are almost certainly going to finish in the top four - opening up the spare Europa League spot for the sixth-placed top-flight team. Finishing sixth has to be the Magpies’ aim.

Conference League

Finishing seventh, barring a Man United disaster in the league, should secure the Conference League. The route to this competition before a ball is kicked comes via the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool clinched that trophy in February - meaning the Premier League now dictates which club qualifies. As it stands, whoever finishes sixth will be playing Conference League football next year.

But that is almost certain to change. If Newcastle end up sixth and Man United with the cup, the Red Devils will take the Europa League spot - that is why a City win is preferable.

However, Man United leapfrogging the Magpies into sixth - and winning the FA Cup - would open up seventh spot for the Conference League. Newcastle ideally need Erik ten Hag’s men to finish seventh and lose the FA Cup final. 

Should the Red Devils tumble down the table but clinch the FA Cup, they would still snatch a Europa League place. Likewise, Man City winning the FA Cup would also free up seventh spot for the Conference League.