Europa League Betting: Magpies to freeze on mission to Moscow

Samuel Eto'o has lived up to his star billing in the Europa League

Newcastle United have done well to reach the last 16 of the Europa League, but Kevin Hatchard thinks they'll meet their match when they face Anzhi Makhachkala.

Anzhi Makhachkala vs Newcastle United, Thu 17:00 BST, Live on ITV4

Match Odds: Anzhi 1.715/7, Newcastle 5.85/1, the draw 4.03/1

Newcastle did exceptionally well to come through their last-32 tie against Metalist Kharkiv, beating the Ukrainians 1-0 on their own patch with a disciplined display. Magpies boss Alan Pardew has hinted he will make the competition his top priority, despite his side still being on the fringes of the Premier League relegation battle.

Anzhi have looked very impressive throughout the competition, especially at home. Guus Hiddink's men have won six out of seven Europa League home games, keeping six clean sheets. Hannover 96 are the only team to have breached the Anzhi defence, and that was in a 3-1 defeat. At the other end of the pitch talismanic striker Samuel Eto'o has excelled, scoring nine goals in 14 Europa League starts. Anzhi's firepower has been further boosted by the expensive addition of Shakhtar Donetsk forward Willian.

Newcastle skipper Fabricio Coloccini is out with a back problem, and even though Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is a capable deputy, he looked a bit jittery in Saturday's Premier League defeat at Swansea. Another player who failed to perform at the Liberty Stadium was striker Papiss Cisse. There is plenty of pressure on the former Freiburg man after the departure of Demba Ba, and he has scored just eight goals in 34 appearances this season. The return of playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa from injury is welcome, but can he make an instant impact after such a long spell on the sidelines?

Despite Pardew's protestations to the contrary, he will have an eye on Sunday's vital league clash with Stoke, and even if he picks a strong line-up, I can't see Newcastle avoiding defeat at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. Newcastle have won just one of their five Europa League away games, and they've won just one out of 14 on the road in the Premier League. Back Anzhi -1.0 on the Asian Handicap to boost the price for a home win to 2.0621/20, and back Anzhi to keep a clean sheet at 2.3411/8.

Recommended Bets

Back Anzhi -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at 2.0621/20

Back Anzhi to keep a clean sheet at 2.3411/8