Writing this preview feels like a pinch me moment in itself. Exactly two years ago, we had just drawn 1-1 with Leeds at St James’ Park, keeping Steve Bruce and Mike Ashley’s Newcastle United winless and without hope just weeks into the new season.
Fast forward a few years and everything has changed. After our thoroughly deserved top-four finish under Eddie Howe, we return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 20 years, kicking off with an iconic trip to the San Siro to play last year’s semi finalists, AC Milan.
Eddie Howe and the squad actually arrived late in Italy, with the flight delayed due to heavy storms in Italy, but that didn’t stop the Toon Army painting the city black and white on Monday night.
It feels surreal but so exciting. I just hope we play with no fear and do ourselves justice. Saturday’s win wasn’t pretty, but it was exactly what we needed, giving us a much-needed lift ahead of our second game in four days. Milan are in the same boat, yet they’ll be the side under pressure, arriving on the back of a 5-1 defeat to fierce rivals Inter Milan just as we won at St James’ Park.
There’s plenty subplots, too. Sandro Tonali back at his boyhood club following a £55m summer move, Sven Botman against the club he turned down in favour of a move to Tyneside. 20 years on from Alan Shearer’s famous brace under Sir Bobby, who’ll be the hero at the San Siro this time?
Whether you’re in the stadium singing your heart out or sat on your sofa at home, we’ll feel proud, excited and pretty emotional when that Champions League anthem plays!
Team news
Joelinton (knee) has been ruled out for a ‘few weeks’, but Sandro Tonali has been passed fit and looks set to return to the squad after he was an unused substitute on Saturday. Joe Willock (Achilles) and Emil Krafth remain out, however.
For the hosts, Fikayo Tomori is back from a ban after missing their drubbing to Inter, but fellow defender Pierre Kalulu and holding midfielder Ismaël Bennacer look set to be absent.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Tonali – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
After rests over the weekend, I fully expect Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali and Miguel Almiron to return to the side.
Elliot Anderson played the full 90 for the first time in the Premier League against Brentford, so it makes total sense for Tonali to replace him. Callum Wilson was our matchwinner and held up the ball superbly at times, but he trained on his own on Monday morning and will make way for Isak; who has the sort of pace and trickery to trouble Milan’s usually high line.
On the left, Howe has a few options. Does he start the in-form Anthony Gordon, summer signing Harvey Barnes – who was the one played subbed off on Saturday – or the rested Jacob Murphy? Gordon has started every game this season and looked shattered when the full-time whistle went on Saturday, but he also looks to be one of our fittest players and capable of going again. Based on this, I can see him playing the first hour before one of Barnes or Murphy comes on.
Predicted AC Milan XI: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Theo; Loftus-Cheek, Krunić, Pobega; Chukwueze, Giroud, Leão.
One to watch: Rafael Leao – The Portuguese international is one of the most feared left wingers in world football, possessing the pace, skill, power and quality to cause chaos. He’ll be flanked by marauding French international Theo Hernandez, meaning our right side of Almiron, Longstaff and Trippier could have their hands full.
Prediction
In many ways, we’re going into unknown territory here. A first for Eddie Howe, a first for so many Toon fans travelling to Milan and a first for the likes of Nick Pope, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff, Anthony Gordon and Miguel Almiron.
It will be tough, but I back us to just about cope with the atmosphere, occasion and opposition; who could be wounded animals after Saturday’s heavy defeat to Inter. Their left side is superb and Olivier Giroud must be managed carefully, but we have the pace at the other end to cause them big problems.
Isak to score in a game of goals at the San Siro, sending us into home games with PSG and Borussia Dortmund with a precious point!
Prediction: AC Milan 2-2 Newcastle
HWTL!
Really looking forward to this one. 🤞🤞🤞
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Will Tonali settle quickly on the left? We’ll see.
Giroud will be a real problem especially in the air. Can’t force a prediction out of myself for this one.
georgio(Quote)
I love how honestly Tonali spoke & let’s not forget he’s still a young lad.
I think the fact it’s AC away first probably helps – get it out the way rather than the home leg first.
I hope the occasion isn’t too much for him – I think it’s a tough call starting him to be honest.
I also hope the home fans are respectful towards him & aren’t booing him – unless he scores the winner, then I’d understand it 😂.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Of course the talk is about Tonali, but my hope is that Longstaff starts alongside him & Bruno.
For Longstaff & Burn tonight will be equally as emotional.
It’s for that reason I’d start Wilson. I think it’s going to need senior players like Trippier and Wilson to try and calm & settle those emotions a bit.
It’s a huge game tonight – not one Howe & his coaches will need to motivate the players for, but team selection & mind set will be key tonight.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Must be great to write the blog for a CL game and I hope you’re relishing it Olly.
As for the game, if the team can manage their emotions a little better than the cup final, where it seemed like it drained them, then hopefully they’ll be fine and it’ll be good to see how they cope with Howe ( probably ) rotating them through CL and PL demands. Good experience for all is the baseline and any kind of positive result is a bonus
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
So a front three of Gordon, Isak and Murphy. There’s some speed there if we can make it count. Giroud is a bogeyman for us. Always seemed to score against us. Hope he’s a bit slower now he’s older. Nervous now. I just hope we do ourselves proud.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Our youngsters got hammered 4-0 by Milan’s youngsters. Oh dear. We are still a long way behind in our youth teams.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Anyone watching ?? I’m about to jump a plane and it’s amazing but mid west us airports seem to prefer college sports to UCL🤣🤣 so I’m
stuck with bbc updates
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
I’m watching. Canny first half but Milan have been very wasteful, thankfully. Pope’s been busy… need to get stuck in in the second half.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Well chuffed with that. Of course a win would’ve been amazing but I’ll take an away point at Milan. Could’ve stolen it at the end there too. MotM for me was Longstaff. He had a great game.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
There’s a new thread! 😳
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Right got here via twitter as cannot access the featured discussion on the site website, it’s just blank. Refreshed countless times, turned the pc off and back on, no change. Went on twitter saw the link on there and here I am.
Unless the website starts showing me threads I can click on, I won’t bother anymore as it’s a pain going on twitter.
As for the match, our motm was pope imo. We could of nicked it at the death too.
kimtoon(Quote)
And now my comments not showing, oh my days .
kimtoon(Quote)