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Pardew: "A Great Draw"
Written by Newcastle Utd
Alan Pardew was delighted to see his Newcastle side drawn away from home first against Benfica in the Europa League quarter-finals
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Alan Pardew was delighted to see his Newcastle United side drawn away from home first against Benfica in the Europa League quarter-final line-up.
The Magpies were last out of the hat in Nyon, and will face the Portuguese giants over two legs next month.
The first of those will be played in Lisbon, on Thursday, 4th April, before United return to Tyneside for the second leg on Thursday, 11th April.
And, having witnessed first hand a truly special European night at St. James' Park less than 24 hours earlier, as Newcastle saw off Anzhi Makhachkala in front of 45,000 passionate Geordies, Pardew hopes that will give his side an edge once again.
"It's a great draw for us," the manager exclusively told nufc.co.uk, having watched the draw unfold in the canteen of the Club's Benton-based Training Centre.
"The Estádio da Luz is a great venue. I've been there and it's a fantastic stadium.
"Importantly, we are at home in the second-leg and that will give us an advantage,
"I'm sure we will have a full house for that. After what the stadium was like last night, I know it will be another brilliant atmosphere, and let's hope we can bring a result back from Benfica in the first-leg."