Just as they did last year at Elland Road in this competition, AS Roma came to St James' Park defending a one-goal lead from the first leg and left for Rome having achieved a scoreless draw and progressed to the next round.
As at Leeds there were moments of genuine Italian panic but try as Newcastle United did last night, excitingly and intelligently, they could not break down the Brazil-dominated Roma back line. There is no disgrace in that. Roma are top of Serie A and over two games only Francesco Totti's debatable penalty in Rome separated the two teams.
In an invigorating opening quarter-hour bristling with swift attacks and some sloppy defence by both teams, Kieron Dyer was as prominent as his opposite number on Roma's right flank, Cafu. The Brazilian international, however, did not deliver two passes of the quality Dyer supplied to Temuri Ketsbaia and Gary Speed in that period, even if both recipients squandered the opportunities.
In the 30th minute, the Roma goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli rushed off his line to block a Ketsbaia chip. Ketsbaia should have done better, especially given the degree of difficulty in the run by Robert Lee to create the chance. Lee, as has been the case since his reinstatement by Robson, was the principal midfield influence.
Yet behind Lee there was still the odd lapse to worry Newcastle's fans and seven minutes before half-time the ground fell silent when Aldair met a Cafu corner firmly enough for Steve Harper to spill the ball. Hughes cleared anxiously.
Five minutes after the interval Nolberto Solano was caught sleeping by Amedeo Mangone. When Mangone released the ball, the visitors suddenly had three on two, and Francesco Totti in possession in a dangerous area for the first time. To Newcastle's relief Totti's finish was mediocre and wide.
Two minutes later Alan Shearer had a half chance from a well-worked free kick, Anotonioli saving, and then on the hour Antonioli saved again, this time from Ketsbaia.
NEWCASTLE UTD: Harper, Charvet, Dumas (Hughes 27), Dabizas, Pistone, Dyer (Ferguson 73), Solano, Lee, Speed, Ketsbaia (Glass 73), Shearer. Subs Not Used: Given, Barton, Maric, McClen. Booked: Lee.
ROMA: Antonioli, Mangone, Aldair, Zago, Cafu, Assuncao, Tommasi, Candela, Totti, Montella (Di Francesco 64), Delvecchio. Subs Not Used: Lupatelli, Alenichev, Tomic, Gourenko, Rinaldi, Choutos. Booked: Delvecchio, Mangone, Tommasi, Zago.
Referee: Hartmut Strampe (Germany).
