NEWCASTLE United face the nightmare prospect of a return to Partizan Belgrade's "Stadium of Death'' in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

Sir Bobby Robson yesterday readily acknowledged that his side have been handed a "tough draw'' in being paired with either Partizan, who knocked the Magpies out of the European Cup winners' Cup five years ago, or Swedish champions Djurgardens.

Robson is preparing his men for tomorrow's Premier League Asia Cup final against Champions League rivals Chelsea in Kuala Lumpur.

But already thoughts are turning to the two-legged qualifier which United must negotiate if they are to reach the group stage of Europe's premier club competition.

''I think this is a tough draw,'' said Robson. "They are both good teams and I am particularly aware that Partizan are a very good and technically strong side.

''I had hoped for a softer draw, but as it turns out, it's a difficult draw - but it will also be difficult for whichever team progresses to play us, particularly when they come to Newcastle. Our ambitions are high and we hope to go through. We have already tasted Champions League football and know what we are playing for.''

United clashed with Partizan, now managed by German legend Lothar Matthaus, in the first round of the Cup Winners' Cup under Ruud Gullit when goals from Alan Shearer and Nikos Dabizas at St James' Park gave them a 2-1 lead to take to Belgrade.

But a Vuk Rasovic penalty - the defender had also scored from the spot in the first leg - put the skids under United as they bowed out on the away-goals rule after a David Batty foul proved fatal.

Matthaus' side won their domestic league by 19 points last season, but went out of the Champions League in the third qualifying round 6-1 on aggregate to Bayern Munich.

Djurgardens, who lead the Swedish league by three points in defence of their title, travel to Belgrade next Wednesday and then take on Partizan in Stockholm on August 6.

The winners meet Newcastle on home turf on either August 12 or 13 and visit Tyneside a fortnight later.

Partizan's followers, nicknamed "The Undertakers'' because of the proximity of Belgrade's Topcider Cemetery to their stadium, whipped up a frenzy when Newcastle visited.

Even though their side emerged victorious, they ripped out and hurled plastic seating at riot police on the final whistle.

Chelsea, who set up their meeting with Newcastle this weekend by yesterday beating the Malaysian national team 4-1, were drawn in Europe against either Slovakian outfit MSK Zilina or Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

The Blues headed for Israel amid security concerns two seasons ago to face Maccabi's city rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv in the UEFA Cup and went out 3-1 on aggregate.

They will play in either Tel Aviv or Zilina - in the north of Slovakia close to the borders with the Czech Republic and Poland - before the return leg at Stamford Bridge.

Scottish champions Rangers will meet either FC Copenhagen or Maltese side Sliema Wanderers, while Old Firm rivals Celtic, assuming they see off FBK Kaunas of Lithuania in the second round, will line up against either MTK Hungaria of Hungary or Finnish outfit HJK Helsinki.

But perhaps the tie of the round is the clash between Italian giants Lazio and Portuguese side Benfica.

Meanwhile, Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd and deputy Douglas Hall were at the centre of intrigue yesterday when they flew from Malaysia to Los Angeles via Japan.

Manchester United, Celtic, Juventus and Barcelona are all in America on pre-season duty, and the United chiefs' visit has prompted talk of transfer business.

Newcastle have spent much of the week playing down talk that midfielder Kieron Dyer could be a target for Premiership rivals Manchester United and Chelsea.

And the Magpies recently asked Barcelona to keep them informed of any developments over the future of Dutch strike ace Patrick Kluivert.

THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND DRAW

CSKA Moscow (Rus) or Vardar (Mac) v Sparta Prague (Cze); MTK Hungaria (Hun) or HJK Helsinki (Fin) v FBK Kaunas (Lit) or Celtic (Sco); Rangers (Sco) v FC Copenhagen (Den) or Sliema Wanderers (Mlt); Austria Vienna (Aut) v Marseille (Fra); Club Brugge (Bel) v Borussia Dortmund (Ger); Sheriff Tiraspol (Mol) or Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukr) v Lokomotiv Moscow (Rus); Lazio (Ita) v Benfica (Por); Dynamo Kiev (Ukr) v Maribor (Slo) or Dinamo Zagreb (Cro); Bohemians (Irl) or Rosenborg (Nor) v Deportivo La Coruna (Spa); Grasshoppers (Swi) v AEK Athens (Gre); MSK Zilina (Svk) or Maccabi Tel Aviv (Isr) v Chelsea (Eng); Celta Vigo (Spa) v Leotar (Bsh) or Slavia Prague (Cze); Partizan Belgrade (Yug) or Djurgarden (Swe) v Newcastle (Eng); Galatasaray (Tur) v FC Pyunik (Arm) or CSKA Sofia (Bul); Rapid Bucharest (Rom) or Anderlecht (Bel) v Wisla Krakow (Pol) or Omonia Nicosia (Cyp); FK Tirana (Alb) or Graz AK (Swi) v Ajax (Ned).