It’s a shootout on the Parc des Princes in opposition to the European champions and if the situation can sound impossibly glamorous for , it has the potential to usher in the French capital.
For now, the crew eighth within the occupy a better place within the . They could possibly be forgiven for wishing the league section solely lasted seven video games, that the desk could possibly be frozen now.
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As it’s, it speaks to progress. A 3rd straight Champions League win at St James’ Park got here courtesy of Yoane Wissa’s greatest evening in black and white, with the most recent proof is prolific in Europe, if not England, and additional proof is great in every. , demolishers , had been brushed apart. Newcastle, who started the night thirteenth, ended it seventh.
PSV had been left dejected after being blown away by Newcastle (REUTERS)
They’re behind subsequent week’s opponents, , solely on targets scored. But the mass of groups on their shoulder means victory in France might be required for direct passage into the final 16. And Newcastle’s have what’s formally the toughest match in Europe, a repeat of the fixture value them victory in 2023.
But that’s for subsequent week, which can be a nervous one for the Dutch champions. PSV had not misplaced on their travels since March, since they went all the way down to Go Forward Eagles, however this was a outcome that leaves them prone to tumbling out of the highest 24. They fell prey to Newcastle’s urgent, wanting naive as ’s aspect picked them off.
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They had been harried to defeat, simply as Newcastle had been propelled onwards by their all-action attackers. Gordon continues to have cut up footballing personalities, impotent within the Premier League – his solely two targets have been penalties – and but seemingly unstoppable in Europe. A sixth Champions League aim means solely Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane have extra. Barnes, with 5, shouldn’t be far behind. Certainly, he has 5 in all competitions in 2026 at St James’ Park. He can appear to be the most effective finisher on the membership.
Yoane Wissa received the ball rolling for the Magpies (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Eddie Howe may rejoice one other memorable European evening (Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
However the preliminary impetus got here from Wissa. Most well-liked to Nick Woltemade, he confirmed why. Purchased to be prepared for the Premier League, he was as a substitute injured for his first three months on Tyneside. But he made a right away influence within the Champions League. His was not the smoothest of finishes, however it has not been the smoothest of introductions.
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Wissa received one minute in Leverkusen in December. This was a belated first Champions League begin, on the age of 29. After the lengthy wait, a aim got here inside eight minutes. Amid the romance of his rise from the decrease leagues in France, his story shouldn’t be completely admirable, even when he was not the one striker who went on strike to drive a switch involving Newcastle in the summertime. If neither scenario was significantly edifying, Wissa lastly received what Brentford couldn’t provide: a Champions League aim. He at the very least has as many within the competitors now as Alexander Isak has mustered in his profession. For good measure, the £55m man had an help earlier than the break.
Though, arguably, PSV assisted Newcastle. If Nick Pope’s kicking was poor at first, the numerous goalkeeping error got here from his PSV counterpart. Newcastle struck when Matej Kovar miscued a cross. Bruno Guimaraes’ purpose was surer, choosing out Joelinton, who squared unselfishly. Wissa’s end was scuffed however it bobbled in. He had been offside when he went to shut down Kovar, however his end counted because the second section. The aim stood.
Wissa is benefiting from his return from harm (REUTERS)
Harvey Barnes slotted house Newcastle’s third aim (Getty Pictures)
The lead was doubled after a second disastrous piece of defending from PSV. Yasik Gasiorowski was caught dawdling in possession by Wissa, sliding in to arrange Gordon. The winger had a tap-in. It ought to compound PSV’s annoyance that they’d conceded in nearly an identical vogue to Atletico Madrid.
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So a Newcastle aspect who waited 85 minutes for a had two targets in half an hour. Thereafter, Barnes sashayed by for a terrific solo aim. The one blight on Newcastle’s evening got here after they misplaced the injured captain Guimaraes, who hobbled round for fairly too lengthy earlier than being changed.
However PSV posed too little menace and Newcastle have solely conceded to Marcus Rashford at St James’ Park in Europe this season. PSV may be nice entertainers however, after a soaking wet day on Tyneside, Peter Bosz’s crew delivered a humid squib of a efficiency.
So Newcastle noticed off PSV. Now for PSG. It might be a revenge mission, however the stakes prolong past that.