Newcastle reach Champions League knockouts with dominant win over PSV
The Magpies gave themselves a chance at finishing in the top eight of the League Phase with a 3-0 victory over the Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.
Newcastle United have had a point to prove on a number of occasions this season. In what has been a consistently inconsistent campaign, the Magpies have often have to respond to disappointing performances and results to highlight that they still are a quality outfit.
Sunday’s drab encounter against the Premier League’s bottom side Wolves, which finished goalless, was one example of Newcastle not playing with the intensity that is usually one of the main weapons in their arsenal. Questions over how suited certain personnel are to winning such games aside, Newcastle could have done much more.
As a result, Eddie Howe’s side returned to action in the Champions League once again hoping that it would provide them with some solace, as it has previously this season. Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven were the visitors to Tyneside, a side who are well out in front in the Eredivisie and who won by four goals to one at Anfield against Liverpool earlier in the campaign.
The prize for the Magpies ahead of kick off was clear. A win would guarantee them a spot in the play-off knockout round of the Champions League, and keep alive the possibility of finishing in the top eight of the League Phase, allowing them to bypass the play-off round.
The scene was set at St. James’ Park, despite the unpleasant weather in the North East, for an exciting evening of European football. What followed turned out to be a one sided affair that pleased the vast majority of the crowd inside the ground.
PSV were relatively comfortable on the ball, but they were caught napping twice in defence by Newcastle’s high press in the first half, allowing for Yoane Wissa and then Anthony Gordon to score, and give the Magpies a two-nil lead at the break.
Both goals came from Newcastle winning the ball high up the pitch, something which has become synonymous with the Magpies under Eddie Howe. It felt like Newcastle at their dangerous best. Unrelenting and aggressive, not allowing their opponents a moment to think in their own half.
Two-nil can sometimes be considered a dangerous scoreline, but this was a game where PSV were decidedly second best and never looked likely to find a route back into the match. And so it proved.
Harvey Barnes sealed the Magpies’ victory midway through the second half with a goal that showed his running power and composed finishing all in one. PSV looked shell shocked. The last time they had lost a game away from in any competition was 11 months ago.
Newcastle are certainly enjoying their Champions League campaign and now it is set to continue. Their final game of this stage is away at Paris Saint-Germain, the current holders of the competition, and yet Newcastle find themselves level on points with the French side heading into that match.
In 2023, Newcastle travelled to the French capital and came away with a point that felt like a defeat given the controversial late penalty that was awarded against them, after they had lead for much of the match. Eddie Howe and his players will know that this time round, the task will be even more difficult given how PSG have developed, but any positive result would taste incredibly sweet.
The potential for fewer games that would come with finishing in the top eight in Paris would bring will be very tantalising for Eddie Howe. The injuries in his squad are there for all to see, and the players he still has available need protecting. How Newcastle could do with a Parisian heist next week.