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
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