Newcastle Achieve Stunning Victory Over PSG in Champions League Return
Newcastle's Dream Return to Champions League: PSG Humbled in 4-1 Victory
Miguel Almiron, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff, and Fabian Schar found the net as Newcastle marked their first home game in the Champions League in two decades with a memorable 4-1 victory. Eddie Howe's team now leads what is considered the toughest group in this season's draw.
Newcastle has four points from their opening two games, one more than PSG, while Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan settled for a 0-0 draw in Germany.
The first-ever encounter between the two teams showcased the sporting interests of Saudi Arabia and Qatar going head-to-head. Newcastle's transformation under Saudi ownership two years ago has paralleled the Middle Eastern influx of cash that has turned PSG into the dominant force in French football over the past decade.
PSG boss Luis Enrique cautioned ahead of the match that Newcastle, despite being in the fourth pot of seeds, was the team no one wanted to face. The Premier League side lived up to that reputation.
Despite being well aware of Newcastle's threat, Luis Enrique fielded a star-studded front four, featuring Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Goncalo Ramos, and Randal Kolo Muani.
PSG could have taken an early lead if Dembele's well-struck volley from Mbappe's cross had found the net instead of narrowly missing. However, once the home team, backed by a roaring crowd of 52,000 fans, took control, they never let go.
PSG, however, played a role in their downfall with the opening goal in the 17th minute. A loose pass by Marquinhos was intercepted by Bruno Guimaraes, who provided Alexander Isak with a clear sight of goal. Gianluigi Donnarumma made a great save to deny the Swede, but Almiron was there to curl the ball into the far corner.
For all the big-name signings from both teams, there was a heartwarming story behind the second goal. Burn grew up watching Newcastle from the stands at St. James' Park and worked his way up from the sixth tier of English football with Blyth Spartans to the highest level of European football.
Donnarumma couldn't stop the giant defender's close-range header from crossing the line six minutes before halftime. PSG, however, was unhappy that a lengthy VAR review to check the goal didn't rule it out for a handball by Jamaal Lascelles in the buildup.
Any hopes of a PSG comeback were extinguished within five minutes of the second half, courtesy of another local talent from Newcastle. Sean Longstaff latched onto Kieran Trippier's pass and drove a low shot beneath Donnarumma, who should have done better.
Nevertheless, the French champions did display some fighting spirit to limit the damage. Teenage midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery impressed in the challenging environment, and his delicate chip over the Newcastle defense perfectly found Lucas Hernandez, who headed into the far corner.
Newcastle, however, sealed a remarkable victory in style, and they view it as just the beginning of their journey toward Champions League glory someday. Fabian Schar, advancing from central defense, unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner from outside the box.
In contrast, PSG is still striving to conquer Europe, and this match was another stark reminder of how distant they are from the competition's favorites. With their worst Ligue 1 start during the Qatari era, PSG has now won just four of Luis Enrique's first nine games in charge.
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