Marítimo set stiff test at Newcastle

Newcastle United FC can secure a round of 32 place with a game to spare as they take on back markers CS Marítimo in UEFA Europa League Group D.

• A win will guarantee Newcastle a place in the round of 32. Only a win will keep Marítimo's hopes of reaching the knockout phase alive.

Previous meetings
• Newcastle's Shola Ameobi and Marítimo's Valentin Roberge both hit the woodwork as the sides' first meeting ended in a 0-0 draw on matchday one.

• Marítimo's four previous games against English sides were all against Leeds United AFC, who they met in the first round of two UEFA Cup campaigns, in 1998/99 and 2001/02. Leeds won both ties – the former on penalties – but in terms of individual games, Marítimo's record was W2 D0 L2 (W2 D0 L0 at home – W0 D0 L2 in England).

• Marítimo have yet to score a goal in England, having lost 1-0 and 3-0 on their two previous visits.

• Three games against Sporting Clube de Portugal represented the sum total of Newcastle's experience of Portuguese opposition prior to matchday one. They drew 1-1 against Sporting in Lisbon in the 2004/05 UEFA Cup group stage, but lost out to the same side in the quarter-finals, winning 1-0 at home then going down 4-1 in the Portuguese capital.

Match background
• Newcastle are unbeaten in six European games this season – three home wins (during which they have not conceded) and three away draws.

• Newcastle have won their last eight UEFA competititon home games and are unbeaten in the last ten since a 2-1 loss to RC Deportivo La Coruña in the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup.

• The Magpies are unbeaten in 24 home games in this competition (W19 D5) since a 1-0 loss to AS Monaco FC in the 1996/97 UEFA Cup semi-finals.

• Marítimo have lost both of their Group D away games without scoring.

Team facts
• Marítimo's Brazilian defender Márcio Rosario turns 29 on the eve of the match.

• Marítimo have had three notable British players: Glaswegian striker Ian Wallace (1986-87), who once played for Newcastle's local rivals Sunderland AFC, Northern Ireland defender Colin Hill (1986-87) and striker John Richards (1983-85), who was on the losing side with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in the first UEFA Cup final in 1972.

• Newcastle's Portuguese playing connections include centre-back Hélder Cristóvão, who spent a season on loan at St James' Park in 1999/2000 and midfielder Hugo Viana (2002-05).

• Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was the 2011/12 Premier League manager of the year, having established himself at Reading FC, West Ham United FC, Charlton Athletic FC and Southampton FC prior to a move to Tyneside in 2010. A glazier and taxi driver while playing non-league football, the midfielder was in his mid-20s when he became a professional, playing for Crystal Palace FC and Charlton among others.

• A defensive midfielder, Marítimo coach Pedro Martins reached a career peak with a three-year spell at Sporting (1995-98), later representing Boavista FC and CD Santa Clara. He moved into coaching in the lower leagues, replacing Mitchell van der Gaag at Marítimo in 2010 following a spell as the club's youth team boss.