This was a victory in so many ways for Newcastle. A victory for a brave and daring performance that bettered the European champions. A victory for overcoming a referee who should make us grateful for our Premier League whistlers.
And yet, at the end of a contest that matched the pre-game fireworks and flares for heat and intensity, Newcastle did not win and did not make the top eight of the Champions League.
But they will, and should, take consolation from an evening of energy and adventure that suggests they can go deep in this competition – certainly deeper than the play-off round that awaits.
It was interesting to learn from the locals in the 24 hours before kick-off that the prospect of that two-legged punishment round was not as unnerving for Paris-Saint Germain. They took that route last season and, while their lead at the top of the 18-team Ligue 1 is only two points, that schedule is not as unforgiving as the Premier League.
For Newcastle, the incentive to remove two games from their calendar could not have been greater, given they have lost players to injury in five of their last six matches. To their credit, they put everything on the line in pursuit on that victory.
Joe Willock scored a header in Newcastle’s valiant 1-1 draw with PSG in the Parc des Princes
Nick Pope saved Newcastle from a poor refereeing decision when he saved an early penalty
Midfielder Vitinha netted a tidy finish after seven minutes to open the scoring for PSG in the tie
One of those players lost in recent weeks, captain Bruno Guimaraes, was only fit enough for the bench. Without him, Newcastle do not win, and so it proved, even if this was as close as they’ll ever come.
Eddie Howe’s selection did not scream priority, which was a surprise. Five changes included wingers Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes dropping to the bench, a pair with 11 Champions League goals between them. But the head coach got it spot on. Come the end, all that was missing was the second goal to send them straight to the last 16 at PSG’s expense.
Newcastle left here two seasons ago with the sour taste of a stoppage-time, VAR injustice that denied them victory. They were reaching for the mouthwash inside 60 seconds this time.
Lewis Miley, decided Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic after a VAR review, had deliberately handled when chasing down Bradley Barcola inside the area. The officials chose to ignore the ball first bouncing off the arm of Barcola, before clipping that of Miley, who was oblivious to its trajectory change. It was as scandalous a call as the one that penalised Tino Livramento in 2023.
Justice was served when Nick Pope dived low to his left to keep out Ousmane Dembele’s penalty, but the bar for the standard of refereeing had been set even lower.
Vincic later booked Anthony Elanga after he was fouled by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the VAR team determined that a Marquinhos handball in the area was not, despite its resemblance to Miley’s apparent infringement.
By then, PSG led. Indeed, they needed only four minutes to correct Dembele’s miss. Kvaratskhelia broke down the right and squared for Vitinha, in space 20 yards out. He paused, sent the recovering Lewis Hall for the baguettes, and calmly stroked into the patch of net that Dembele had tried and failed to find moments earlier.
It felt as if PSG could score at will. Come the 15th minute, Pope had again saved from Dembele and Kvaratskhelia and the possession count read 87-13 in favour of the hosts.
Eddie Howe’s selection raised eyebrows before the match but the head coach got it spot on
Ousmane Dembele missed a penalty but threatened throughout the early stages of the first 45
Harvey Barnes almost won it for Newcastle at the death but his shot somehow hit the post
Then, during the foul on Elanga in the 20th minute, Kvaratskhelia hurt his ankle and was forced off. When he was replaced by Desire Doue – the star of last season’s final – it was hard to make a case for Newcastle gaining from the Georgian’s removal.
Yet, upon that moment the direction of the half changed. From nothing, Newcastle had literally seen no attacking play, they began to grow in belief and territory. Midfielders Jacob Ramsey and Sandro Tonali, swamped by Vitinha and Co to that point, emerged from the mire of their torrid start and dictated the remainder of the opening period.
It looked like expiring without a deserved equaliser – the Marquinhos handball was waved away in the 40th minute – but then, in stoppage-time and much like Luis Enrique had feared, PSG succumbed to a set-piece.
Tonali loaded a free-kick from the centre-circle, Marquinhos’ attempt to clear was weak and Dan Burn headed onto the brow of Joe Willock, who was alive to the likelihood of his 6ft 7ins team-mate winning the dropping ball.
PSG were sleeping, much like they had been for the previous half hour in which Newcastle smothered them. No one saw that momentum swing after an opening that suggested an ugly night lay in store for the visitors.
By now, and then into the second half, Howe saw only beauty in the sight of runners like Ramsey, Willock and Anthony Elanga exploiting the ocean of green in behind PSG’s defence.
Willock ran clear to score a second only to be denied by an assistant’s flag – fairly, this time – and Ramsey’s snap shot was saved during a spell in which the hosts were out of breath and answers.
With his game-plan perfected – save for the scary start – Howe brought on Gordon and Barnes midway through the second half. Gordon soon tested Safonov in search of his seventh Champions League goal and, entering the final 20 minutes, there looked to be only one winner.
The outstanding Ramsey again went close, enjoying his best game since his £40m arrival from Aston Villa in the summer. Gordon then snapped Barnes clear but his strike was beat away.
And then, at the death, the moment that had the 2,000 Geordies behind the goal out of their seats, an open goal for Barnes at the far post. Somehow, his shot was sliced onto the post. You knew then that Newcastle would be victors in all but result.
