Brilliant Toon deliver big win in Belgium – Union SG 0-4 Newcastle

The perfect result to kick off a huge week for Newcastle United, as Eddie Howe’s Mags delivered a dominant display and our biggest win of the Champions League proper to see off in-form Belgian side Union SG in some style.

Our first win away from home in Europe since we dispatched Metalist Kharkiv during the 2012/13 campaign, and it was thoroughly deserved, as the outstanding Nick Woltemade opened the scoring before an Anthony Gordon brace and late strike from Harvey Barnes secured an emphatic 4-0 victory.

We controlled the game, looked far sharper in attack and played some lovely football at times, showing real hunger and desire to make a statement and silence the doubters after a tricky start to the season up to this point.

Eddie Howe made two changes from Sunday, seeing Kieran Trippier and Anthony Elanga come in for Tino Livramento and Jacob Murphy, with Dan Burn playing at left-back in a 4-3-3.

Newcastle XI: Pope – Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn – Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton – Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon

Subs: Ramsdale, Thompson, Hall, Schar, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, J. Murphy, Willock, A.Murphy, Miley

It was a steady start, where we had most of the ball without creating any major openings. The home side were really struggling to keep possession, but Newcastle only mustered one shot in the opening 15 minutes despite enjoying 72% of the play.

A series of corners came our way and Union SG stopper Scherpen flapped at a few of them, although Tonali’s delivery was poor, often hitting the first man and allowing the home side to clear.

However, the Italian was soon at the heart of the action, as he pounced on Elanga’s blocked effort and saw his shot flicked in superbly by Nick Woltemade! 1-0 Newcastle, a third goal in four starts for our club record signing our first away goal of the season after a strong opening 20 minutes.

Newcastle lead through Sandro Tonali 🙌

It takes an unlucky deflection but they all count the same 💫

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 1, 2025

After a short period of Union SG pressure and two solid stops from Pope, Tonali found Trippier and the right-back crossed for Joelinton, who arrived well again but headed a decent chance just wide, taking a whack in the process.

We were growing in confidence and played some lovely football, using Woltemade as the focal point as the big German produced some brilliant pieces of hold up play to feed a lively Elanga and Gordon, who were constant outlets out wide.

That Elanga sharpness then paid dividends as he got to the ball first in the box and drew the foul, handing Newcastle a penalty and Gordon the chance to make it 2-0 before the break, which he did not pass up! Our number 10 sent the Union SG stopper the wrong way to double our lead and his tally for the season, with both of his strikes coming in the Champions League.

We made a fast start to the second half and it was Woltemade who dazzled to create the opening, showing quick feet and tight dribbling to break free in amongst Union SG bodies before Elanga tested the goalkeeper with a shot from the right.

At the other end, we did survive a few scares, as a big chance flew wide after Burn got beaten down our left and Niang forced Pope into another solid stop to keep it at 2-0. We had to stay switched on as, despite our dominance, 2-0 is a funny old scoreline and anything but game over.

Right on cue, that two-goal lead became three, as Gordon’s cross was adjudged to have been handled following Woltemade’s protestations. VAR recommended a review, the referee had a look and it was given, seeing Gordon step up and slot home once again to make it 3-0.

Union SG were picking up plenty of yellow cards and our one man on a booking, Joelinton, was taken off for Miley, giving our Geordie talent a 30-minute run out and our Brazilian an early bath before more changes followed. Woltemade, Elanga and Bruno all made way after all delivering strong displays, with Osula, Barnes and Hall all coming on, seeing us shift to a 5-4-1 to see the game out.

A swift counter-attack and Harvey Barnes gives Newcastle their fourth goal of the evening 🔥

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/yuR18I5I6C

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 1, 2025

But, just as we looked to shut up shop, Gordon started a counter attack that saw Osula hold up the ball superbly and feed Barnes, who finished well for his first of the season after being slipped in by the big Dane, who did brilliantly in the build up. 4-0!

Fabian Schar came on for the final 10 minutes, appearing for the first time since Barcelona as he replaced Trippier, allowing the rock solid Thiaw to play at right-back in the closing stages.

It was very nearly 5-0 in stoppage time and what a goal it would’ve been, as Hall and Barnes combined with a slick one-two before the cut-back to Tonali was saved, denying the all-action Italian a goal his display deserved.

A big win after a brutal result on Sunday, a massive result in the context of our European campaign and the ideal confidence-boosting performance heading into Sunday’s clash with Nottingham Forest in the league.

Howay the lads!