PSG – Newcastle 1:1 (Mbappe, penalty 90+8′ | Isaac 24′)
PARQUE DE PRINCE – Newcastle United’s hearts were already broken in stoppage time, but as the pain subsides, a sober analysis shows that Eddie Howe and his shattered players have taken a big step in the right direction.
The Magpies were excellent but their resistance was broken in the sixth minute of added time when Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty awarded by VAR’s toughest decision. Tino Livramento, whose evening was marked with supreme aplomb, barely managed to prevent Ousmane Dembele’s cross from bouncing off his hip and onto his arm. But the travesty of error correction technology continues to disrupt the natural rhythm of football, and Newcastle are the latest team to feel the unfair finger of fate.
They have been so close to the result for many years and have been so good all this time. They withstood pressure from Paris Saint-Germain, defending heroically for 94 minutes to prevent Mbappe from breaking through their resistance, and controlled the game for long periods before their tired bodies handed the initiative back to the hosts.
They continue to compete in the death match, but the latest shootout with AC Milan appears to be more about a Europa League place than continuing their Champions League adventure in 2024. It’s a huge shame because that night they seemed to have finally figured out the rules of the road game in this league.
In the circumstances this represents a brilliant performance and a good point. Fourteen first team players were injured or suspended and the bench was made up of Bristol Street Motors Trophy material: two goalkeepers, two children, Paul Dummett and Lewis Hall.
This is what we expected from Newcastle. There was finally a full-fledged Hoveball, emerging at a hostile Parc des Princes after weathering a brutal early storm from Paris Saint-Germain’s ruthless front line. Everything that was impressive about Newcastle went home with them across the English Channel.
Productivity across the field has been increased by several levels. Against PSG at St James’ Park they were at times overwhelmed by adrenaline, but here they showed real intelligence and confidence in their play for long periods of time.
And they learn what it takes to thrive on the streets. Miguel Almiron’s first-half performance was one of the best of his Newcastle career, but watch as he made some of his smartest tactical errors as Mbappe was trapped in control with his navy shirts poised for a near fall.
Joelinton also survived a 67th-minute yellow card and did well to play offside. It seemed to one man that it was on this night that they finally realized that boiling alone was not enough to take points away from Europe’s best players.
What about Lewis Miley, the youngest midfielder to make his Champions League debut since one Jude Bellingham? Together with Bruno Guimarães, he gave a sensational performance. Each of them covered 4.2 miles (6.8 km), covering every blade of Parisian grass. But there was ingenuity to offset the energy and beautiful movement off the ball that bought him time on the ball. His dummy run before Isak’s goal was as sweet as the Swede’s pass on Saturday.
Let us remember that he is only 17 years old and this was only the fourth start in his career. Let’s not talk about potential when it’s already affecting games against world-class opponents.
Newcastle deserved the advantage when Isak scored after Gianluigi Donnarumma’s howler. The first away goal in the Champions League caused an explosion of joy in the middle of the Parc des Princes, where the traveling fans were.
PSG’s revival was inevitably around the corner. Enrique acted, shifting Mbappe to the right to attack Livramento and the overworked Gordon.
The pressure was enormous in the final twenty minutes, but Newcastle survived it all until fate – and the video monitor – intervened. These were the harshest conclusions.