Newcastle Braced With Largest Champions League Travel Mileage Out Of English Clubs

With the Champions League draw having taken place yesterday, Europe’s elite in club football now know exactly what lies ahead. The new-look format, with more teams and a longer group stage, means managers will already be working out how to balance tactical preparation with the added demands of travel.

Eight matches - four at home, four away, which may not sound too taxing, but throw in trips across the continent and beyond, and suddenly squad rotation, recovery, and depth of the bench become just as important as the tactics on the pitch. Fans, too, will be studying the fixture list, working out which away days are manageable and which require serious dedication.

For some clubs, that dedication will be tested to the absolute limit. Kairat Almaty (Kazakhstan Premier League) take top spot for sheer miles to cover, racking up a staggering 13,552 miles across their eight Champions League fixtures. Qarabag (Azerbaijan Premier League) are up next with 9,087 miles to cover, showing just how much of a physical toll this competition can take on teams from Europe’s edges. Completing the top five in the travel race are Villarreal (7,691 miles), Pafos (5,810 miles), and Benfica (5,544 miles).

The Premier League clubs, meanwhile, face much more manageable journeys — but that doesn’t mean the grind won’t be felt. Newcastle United sit top of the English pile with 5,150 miles to travel. For a fanbase famous for its loyalty on the road, that’s a challenge they’ll relish, though it will be a demanding return to Europe’s biggest stage. They’re followed by Chelsea (4,393 miles), Manchester City (3,717 miles), Liverpool (3,507 miles), Arsenal (2,926 miles), and Tottenham (2,197 miles). Juggling the Premier League alongside domestic cups and European football means that every mile adds up, and it could easily prove costly during the season.

German teams have less distance to travel which makes sense considering their centrality in the continent. However, the bookmakers do not seem to be factoring this into the odds pricing a German team to with the Champions League at 8/1. Compare that to a team from England (1/1), Spain (9/4), France (11/2) and Italy (7/1). Have a play with this bet calculator to compare.

Some of the continent’s giants face relatively balanced schedules. Barcelona (4,326 miles) and Real Madrid (3,949 miles) have near-identical totals, highlighting just how clustered much of the competition is for Spain’s biggest names. Sporting Lisbon (3,891 miles) aren’t far behind, while Athletic Club (3,504 miles) and Atlético Madrid (3,223 miles) also face significant trips. Bayern Munich (2,768 miles) see a lighter load, while other top clubs including Inter Milan (2,391 miles), Juventus (2,253 miles), and Bayer Leverkusen (2,090 miles) can count themselves fortunate with the distances they’ll cover.

It’s a reminder that the Champions League is about more than just the glamour of the draw or the star-studded line-ups. The competition is also defined as much by air miles, jet lag, and recovery schedules as it is by tactical battles under the lights. And for fans, whether it’s a short hop to Munich or a trek out to Azerbaijan, the miles covered tell their own story of commitment, culture, and the unique charm of following your football club across Europe.

Read more as Lauren looks ahead to the huge Premier League clash between Liverpool and Arsenal this weekend