Newcastle set for a long Europa League trip to Anzhi Makhachkala this week, but so are the opposition - Colin Young's Northern Exposure
Newcastle United's Europa League journey moves on a considerable notch this week as they enter last 16 of the competition, still bouyed by their impressive performance, and win in the Ukraine last time out on the continent.
On Thursday they have will travelled just as far as Kharkiv, up a bit on the map, and in class, to face FC Anzhi Makhachkala.
They have at least been spared a trip into Dagestan.
Spot on: Shola Ameobi's penalty guided Newcastle to a 1-0 win in hostile Kharkiv in the last round More from Colin Young... Northern Exposure: Sunderland are still a club in transition with Paolo Di Canio ready to instill radical changes 15/05/13 Pardew denies Newcastle rift as Di Canio calls for 'nice' Sunderland to develop an edge... but both are at risk of relegation 03/05/13 Northern Exposure: How long can Di Canio's Sunderland honeymoon last? 23/04/13 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Paolo and Pardew ride the North-East rollercoaster... but is one of them heading for oblivion? 17/04/13 Northern Exposure: It's nearly time for the Tyne-Wear derby but who are the 22 players that Pardew and Di Canio should select? 10/04/13 Northern Exposure: Sunderland can't sweep this furore under the carpet, it would never have happened under Quinn's watch 03/04/13 Northern Exposure: Newcastle are flying in Europe but the main talking point is Pardew's beard! 14/03/13 Northern Exposure: Boro's form went down with the Christmas decorations leaving promotion hopes hanging by a thread 27/02/13 VIEW FULL ARCHIVEDue to the on-going conflict there, UEFA insist European ties are played 1,000 miles away in Moscow, where the team are also forced to train.
They play their home games under heavy security and the players live and work in the Russian capital.
This week’s first leg will be on the artificial pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium where Anzhi have won all four of the Europa League games so far, including a 1-0 victory over Liverpool.
Expense is no object to a team which was only founded in 1991, only promoted to the Russian Premier League for a second time two years ago and has never finished higher than fourth.
Two years ago Dagestan billionaire Suleyman Kerimov took control of the club and, as well as starting construction of a new 40,000-seater stadium, rebuilt his team with his substantial wealth accrued through years of shrewd business investments.
Roberto Carlos was his first big-name import, followed by Jucilei da Silva, Mbark Boussoufa, Balazs Dzsudzsak, Chelsea midfielder Yuri Zhirkov and Blackburn Rovers’s Christopher Samba were all purchased for a combined £50million.
And then came the deal which saw football draw its breath – and not QPR’s head-shaking repeat fee for Samba - Kerimov paid Inter Milan £28m for Samuel Eto’o and paid the Cameroon striker the biggest wage in football, reported to be worth nearly £18m-a-year.
Last month Kerimov was at it again, luring Brazilian playmaker Willian from Shakhtar Donetsk in a £30m deal who is available, despite his role in taking the Ukrainian champions to the last 16 of the Champions League this season.
I was sure that meant you were cup-tied for every European competition, once upon a time.
Kerimov has hired the best in former Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink but he will not come cheap either.
Big money: Samuel Eto'o moved to Anzhi for £28m from Inter MilanGiant: Christopher Samba left Anzhi for QPR in January
The Dutch master, not without offers from across the globe as he ponders a final flourish before retirement, is intent on delivering his boss’s first ambition to take Anzhi into the Champions League for the first time in their short history.
And he’d quite like a European trophy too.
Currently second in the league behind CSKA Moscow, which would ensure Champions League play-offs, they overcame Hannover in the knock-out rounds of the Europa League after topping Liverpool’s group, despite losing the reverse fixture at Anfield 1-0.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has been dealt a massive blow by the loss of captain Fabricio Coloccini whose know-how and presence will be severely missed.
Back to his best, Coloccini relishes occasions like Thursday night and is one man who will not let the change of surface affect his performance.
Otherwise he is close to a fully-fit squad, with Hatem Ben Arfa’s lack of match fitness the primary concern.
It remains to be seen whether the Frenchman’s fitness regime, which has included missing Saturday’s visit to Swansea, will be enough to make the flight to Moscow in the morning.
The two Hannover games aside, Anzhi haven’t played competitively since December 10 and the remaining 11 games of the season will resume on Saturday.
But Pardew has already tapped into Brendan Rodgers’s observations and files on the moneybags who await them in Moscow.
Take that: Shola Ameobi sticks his tongue out after scoring the decisive goal in the tie Home sweet home? Anzhi play their Europa League games 1,000 miles away in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium VIDEO: Watch highlights of Newcastle's 1-0 defeat to Swansea .epl_container,.epl_top_container, .spon_left, .spon_right, .epl_clear{display:block;margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:0px;font-size:0px;border:0px;white-space:nowrap;} .epl_container{background-color:#000000;} .epl_top_container{background:#F9F9F9 url(http://l.yimg.com/i/i/uk/any/e/bkg.jpg) repeat-x scroll top;} .spon_left{width:140px;float:left;height:60px;overflow:hidden;background:#000000 url(http://l.yimg.com/i/i/uk/any/e/ylogo.jpg) no-repeat;} .spon_right{width:160px;float:right;height:60px;overflow:hidden;background:#000000 url(http://l.yimg.com/i/i/uk/any/e/right.jpg) no-repeat;} .epl_clear{clear:both;}More... Gutierrez: We should forget Europe if it's going to cost us our Premier League status The 2015 Rugby World Cup... coming soon to a football ground near you (but at least Twickenham gets the final) Swansea 1 Newcastle 0: Super sub Moore strikes late for Capital One Cup winners against spirited Toon Ruud Gullit - The Footballers' Football Column: German teams are doing better in Champions League because they have homegrown players... English clubs have too many overpaid foreigners All the latest Newcastle news, features and opinion