The passionate Newcastle crowd witnessed an exceptional display from their team, leaving PSG struggling to find answers to the relentless onslaught.The hosts wasted no time, taking the lead in the 17th minute throughMiguel Almiron‘s precise finish. Just before halftime, Dan Burn added to PSG’s misery with a powerful header, doubling Newcastle’s advantage.
The fervour of the crowd continued into the second half, and the home team did not disappoint. Sean Longstaff extended Newcastle’s lead just five minutes into the second half, drilling a shot past PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma.Despite a sudden goal by Lucas Hernandez for PSG, Newcastle remained in control. To complete their remarkable victory, defender Fabian Schar scored a fourth goal during stoppage time. This stunning win propelled Newcastle United to the top of Group F with four points, one ahead of PSG in second place.
For PSG, this defeat marked their heaviest loss in the group stage of the Champions League since a 3-0 defeat against Chelsea in September 2004. It was also the first time they conceded four goals in a single group-stage match in the competition since a 3-4 defeat to Deportivo La Coruna in March 2001.
As PSG arrived in Newcastle, they were facing challenges domestically in Ligue 1 this season, having struggled to find their rhythm. Additionally, their record against English teams in the Champions League had been disappointing, with five defeats in their previous seven encounters.
From the beginning, PSG appeared outmatched, failing to register a single shot on target in the first half, a rare occurrence for the French champions in a Champions League group-stage match since November 2013.
With the crowd’s relentless support in the wet conditions, Newcastle United gradually gained momentum. Almiron’s goal was a historic moment as he became their first goalscorer in the competition since the legendary Alan Shearer.
Despite Donnarumma’s excellent saves, he could do nothing to prevent Burn’s header, a goal that required a lengthy VAR review. Longstaff’s strike, although one Donnarumma should have kept out, brought Newcastle closer to an unforgettable victory. Hernandez’s header briefly threatened a PSG comeback, but it was Newcastle’s night.
Aside from a notable save by Nick Pope against an Ousmane Dembele strike, PSG rarely troubled the Newcastle goal. Schar’s stunning long-range strike provided the perfect conclusion for the jubilant hosts.
In another Group F match on Wednesday, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan played out a goalless draw in Germany, marking Milan’s second consecutive draw in the opening two matches of this year’s Champions League campaign.
(With Reuters inputs)
