A coming-of-age performance from Newcastle United in the Champions League, as we survived an early storm before outworking and outplaying the holders PSG in their own backyard.
We created more than enough to win it in an outstanding second-half display, which will leave many wondering what if, but it’s a performance and result to be proud of.
After finishing 12th out of the 36 teams, level with PSG, above Atletico Madrid and Juventus and just a point behind Inter Milan and Real Madrid, we head into next month’s two-legged play-off tie on a high against Monaco or Qarabag.
Jacob Ramsey delivered his best display yet in black and white, Joe Willock was much more like his former self, Tonali was relentless, Hall and Miley played with maturity beyond their years at wing-back once again and our back three of Botman, Burn and Thiaw were all rock solid against some of Europe’s best in attack.
In a week that’s seen many on social media take aim, with some criticism that has been fair, Eddie Howe deserves real credit too. He’s got things wrong this season, and our inability to break down low blocks remains an issue, but anyone claiming he ‘hasn’t a clue tactically’ and won’t stray from 4-3-3 would do well to remember nights like tonight.
On that note, we made five changes from Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa and moved to a back five, seeing Burn, Ramsey, Willock, Elanga and Woltemade come in, with Trippier, Joelinton, Gordon, Barnes and Wissa dropping out.
Bruno was in the squad, but only fit enough for the bench, with Howe opting not to risk the Brazilian who was clearly still wasn’t 100%.
Newcastle XI: Pope – Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall – Ramsey, Willock, Tonali – Woltemade, Elanga
Subs: Ramsdale, Harris, Trippier, Wissa, Gordon, Barnes, Osula, A.Murphy, Guimaraes, Shahar
PSG XI: Safonov – Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes – Neves, Vitinha, Zaire-Emery – Barcola, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Less than 60 seconds in and the drama began. Another controversial penalty incident in Paris? You bet. A Miley ‘handball’, yet it only struck the youngster’s hand due to a deflection. It was never a penalty, but it was given and justice was served, as Pope saved Dembele’s spot kick!
However, it wasn’t long until PSG did go ahead. Four minutes after the penalty save, Kvaratskhelia was given too much space down the right, squared the Vitinha and the Portuguese sensation curled expertly into the bottom corner from just outside the box. 1-0 PSG.
We’d barely got a touch of the ball and yet PSG were almost out of sight early doors, as Dembele forced Pope into another save and Kvaratskhelia was next to get a shot on goal before Miley sliced over at the other end.
Newcastle were being well and truly outplayed in the opening 10 minutes, but referee Slavko Vincic was having an absolute stinker. The baffling penalty call, Elanga BOOKED for being fouled and Willock penalised for being too strong for Hakimi.
Woltemade then missed a big chance to make it 1-1, failing to connect with a close range header. It hit Marquinhos’ hand, albeit accidentally, but was this one given? Of course not. WHERE IS THE CONSISTENCY? On a positive note, we had finally settled down and were seeing more of the ball, with PSG no longer cutting through us at will after their electric start.
Half-time was seconds away and we’d just about weathered a first half storm, then came the equaliser! A long ball pumped into the box and Burn header across the box was met by Willock, who arrived perfectly to glance into the far corner. 1-1 and a goal which, as things stood at half-time across all 18 ties, kept us in the top 8, with Barcelona losing to Copenhagen, Chelsea 2-1 down at Napoli and Atletico Madrid behind held by Bodo/Glimt at the break.
Joe Willock scores vs PSG, UEFA and the empire of Qatar, absolute justice here in Paris, 1-1. Beautiful goal.pic.twitter.com/FaMVub0inL
— Dell 🇮🇹 (@agbnufc_) January 28, 2026
A huge second 45 awaited and we started it by creating a decent chance on the break, with Ramsey getting a shot on goal after good work from Willock, Woltemade and Tonali to keep the attack alive. Positive signs, and a reminder of the space PSG leave in behind if we could exploit it.
On that note, after a couple of vital interventions from Botman and Thiaw at the other end, Willock got in behind minutes later and thought he’d made it 2-1, only for the offside flag to deny him a second and Newcastle the lead.
Willock’s driving runs were a throwback to his former self from years gone by, Ramsey was really growing into the game, Elanga was mixed bag and Woltemade had to do more to hold the ball up, with his flicks and hopeful headers on often failing to blue shirts.
With 25 minutes to go, Barcelona’s comeback against Copenhagen saw us move out of the top 8, and with that change in the UCL table came a couple of changes at the Parc des Princes, as Howe brought on Gordon and Barnes for Elanga and Willock. Two attacking changes, bringing on a duo who’d scored 11 goals in our seven previous European games thus far!
It felt like the right time to mix it up, as we’d started to become sloppy and gifting the ball back to a PSG side who were never far from creating an opening out of nothings; highlighted by a quick ball around the corner which was fired narrowly wide by Dembele.
PSG stopper Safonov looked shaky and we were right to test him, as Gordon tried his luck from range to force an awkward-looking save from the Russian. Another attack followed, as Gordon, Barnes and Ramsey combined, only to see a shot blocked in the box before Safonov flapped at the resultant corner which Tonali fired over! Suddenly, it was Newcastle who looked the more likely side to win it!
Another change came from Howe with just over 10 minutes to play, as Woltemade was replaced by Wissa just before Gordon went down in the box for the third penalty claim that was checked and waved away by VAR. No surprise there.
Then came yet another Newcastle break. Hall released Gordon down the line, he cut in and fed Barnes, who had a low shot with his left stopped by Safonov with less than five minutes remaining. Then came an absolute sitter for that same man. Again, Gordon burst clear and it felt to Barnes at the back post, only for his off-balance strike to smash into the side netting!
Inches away from a winner and with that a spot in the top 8, but it wasn’t to be despite our valiant effort, where we survived an early storm and created enough to win it in an inspired second half display that had everything but that second goal.
Next up, a trip to Liverpool on Saturday night
We will remember nights like tonight, but why has it taken Howe so long to change it?
Brings back memories of how we played against Arsenal in the Carabo Cup semis.
About time to!
We defended well and looked dangerous on the break WITHOUT BRUNO!
Joseph(Quote)
So pleased to see Howe rotate more and change the system. Tbf he couldn’t play 3 at the back until Burn got back. We were brilliant 2nd half and must build on this in the PL. Def fancy us in the play offs and if we get Chelsea cheats in the last 16 for that matter
Ramsey is definitely a player, just needs time. I have said it all along. Far far too early to write new signings off…..but some are desperate to, sadly
East Stand(Quote)
It’s mistaken to use the word inconsistency. It could be perceived as something else. It doesn’t surprise me that this happened.The VAR decisions) It keeps happening. That’s a contradiction to inconsistency. It happens to the same teams consistently.
Why does this keep happening? My view is the club itself need to make some noises about this type of decision making, while voicing concerns that those looking from the outside could be given the wrong impression that there is a bias of some kind that continues and there is no questions asked. This happened the last time we played them. Lightening doesent strike twice.
It all balances out blah blah. It doesn’t. BBC match day pundits brush it off as unlucky. If that had been other teams like Liverpool there would have been a full scale assault on the referee and in-depth analysis of all those questionable decisions.
The little birdy(Quote)
Never a pen but what a save by Pope.
Great performance all round, better team in the second half and let’s hope we can take this into the league and push on.
Onwards and upwards ⚫⚪
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Well said.
Rotobob(Quote)
Played really well after the first 15 mins we were the better side imo. Ref was dodgy as hell as well, VAR too for that matter.Ramsey looking better with each game and Elanga improving and Willocks best game in yonks. Lets give players a little more time to settle and come back into form.
Tonali was much better last night too.
kimtoon(Quote)
If that Pen had not been given against us I would have been mad. It looked like Miley batted it away.
PremAndUp(Quote)
I don’t get all the hype around that performance. Howe switched to a 5-4-1 formation (not for the first time in a big game, especially away) – and suddenly he’s a tactical genius. Against a high-pressing PSG, this ultra-defensive approach worked. But you’d have massive problems against a team that sits deep, like a Karabakh.
Newcastle is spending money like a top club but playing like an underdog. This kind of “park the bus” tactic might get you a one-off result in a specific match, but it won’t win you anything over the long haul.
hmd(Quote)
The whole tactic is to counter-attack, reach the corner of the box and cross, earn a set-piece, and force the ball in. Sheffield United football, but with a £700M squad.
hmd(Quote)
We have a squad value of 711m according to TM. Only Inter 667m and Sporting 472m finished above us with lesser squads. Of the other teams, only Spurs 878m and Bayern 981m have values less than a billion. We are not spending money like a top club we would have to spend 50% more than we are to be spending like a top club.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Our average player value is 26m Arsenal 52m twice ours. All values in Euros btw
PremAndUp(Quote)
Arsenal are also under fire right now for playing Pulis-ball
hmd(Quote)
Some people seem to think there is only one acceptable way to play football, and then complain there is no plan B
PremAndUp(Quote)
It’s been clear for a long time that only creative football wins in the long run. One-offs like Leicester are exceptions to the rule
hmd(Quote)
Depends what you call creative. Matches are only 90mins and as has also been shown, Tika-Taka didn’t last. Tactics evolve, and possession-based passing can be very ineffective as well as boring. If everybody played the same way, then nobody would win in the long run.
PremAndUp(Quote)
A very good performance last night, particularly the second half. The ref … well it’s becoming more and more obvious that suitcases of cash are changing hands. So biased and obviously wrong. And then the BBC on match of the day… lol. They say they are not a biased organisation, they are so biased it makes me sick. No interview with Eddie, yet they interview Slot. They did not show any of the 3 penalty shouts we had, brushed away the one given to PSG, did not show or discuss Elanga getting tackled then given a yellow card for being tackled 🤷🏻♂️. Awful biased coverage. Hey ho. We still managed a very credible draw against the current European Champions despite the clearly crooked officiating. Onwards to the play offs. I hope it’s Qarabag rather than Monaco but whatever, bring it on.
So many outstanding players for us last night. Ramsey, Miley, Hall, Willock, Burn … we didn’t miss Bruno and that says something. More of that on Saturday against Liverpool please.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
The point is later on in the 1st half a similar incident occurred in their box and was waived away. Neither were penalties by that standard. The rules also state that were there is an accidental handball that leads to a goal there should be a finding of hand ball. It clearly hit the PSG man’s arm and deflected onto Lewis Miley’s hand. If he had scored the penalty VAR should have over ruled or ruled it shouldn’t have been given in the 1st place.
The Little Birdy(Quote)
Not disagreeing neither should be given, but I would have been screaming for one if it was against me
PremAndUp(Quote)
Remember George Graham at Arsenal won six trophies playing some of the most boring negative football going.
I’d rather we won stuff than win nothing playing a certain way because some fans demand it.
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Spot on. No pun intended.
The little bidy(Quote)
So, Qarabag it is then! Thats a very winnable fixture!
Gilly Toon(Quote)