by Newcastle have waited 20 years to play again in the Champions League group stage and none of their players were ready to bow out after five games. After a night of high pressure and drama, they live to fight another day in the Group of Death.
There should have been more. They had a glorious victory within minutes that would see them take control of their last 16 destiny ahead of the final at home to Milan.
Related: Manchester City surpasses the best place and Álvarez to get a goal in the fight against RB Leipzig
It was a night when cool heads and lion hearts were needed and Eddie Howe had them in abundance. His response to the selection crisis that had seen ten senior players removed? Just push his 11 starters through the entire game. There were times, when Paris Saint-Germain laid siege to their goal in the second half, when the black and white stripes were ready to fall. They didn’t.
The breakthrough came during a superb first half performance, Alexander Isak scoring their goal after a handling error by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Yes, Newcastlee got lucky, especially in the closing stages when the ball wouldn’t go in for PSG. And then he did.
Newcastle’s resistance was broken at the last in devastating fashion, Ousmane Dembele’s cross hitting Tino Livramento in the sideline and curling into the back of his hand. Penalty, the VAR said and the referee agreed. Kylian Mbappe scored. For Newcastle, it was brutally harsh.
It was certainly worth rewinding to the start of October and the final at St James’ Park as Newcastle had a stunning victory on this occasion. The atmosphere generated by the PSG ultras was always warm. Because of their thirst for revenge, which some of the players had mentioned, it was even greater. The Paris media painted the 4-1 as a humiliation.
PSG started with ferocious intensity and fought their way forward, making progress on the right through Ousmane Dembélé and the overlapping Achraf Hakimi. Lee Kang-in had volleyed home after Dembélé’s cross – Fabián Ruiz hit high on the second step – when PSG created the first big chance.
It was great, Randal Kolo Muani getting rid of Hakimi with a fine touch and the full back crossing low for Mbappé, who came at breakneck speed; a truly terrifying sight. Mbappé went with the back heel curl. Nick Pope blocked his legs.
It didn’t take long for Newcastle to dig a path, show their composure on the ball, a desire to make their punches count. They would have given anything to be on this stage last season, during the long run for four Premier League finishes. They had no intention of dying wondering. His fans could be heard – loudly – above the incessant drum beats and bell chants from the other side and were in dreamland when Isak put them in front.
The striker blew a golden chance on 12 minutes, that’s when the tide started to turn. It was Miguel Almirón who set it up, robbing Hakimi with a low cross. Isak was only there to lift a first-time shot high. He wouldn’t be so profligate next time.
The construction was up to the drive and confidence of Tino Livramento, the left back escaping from three potential competitors on the left edge of the PSG area and continuing, pushing the line, other PSG players able. lay a glove on him. He found Almiron, who cut back and shot and that’s when Gianluigi Donnarumma suffered his moment of horror, allowing the ball to slip out of his grasp. Isak gobbled up the rebound.
Dembélé worked the Pope on 32 minutes with a scuffed effort that dribbled towards the corner and beat Fabian Schär’s stoppage time effort from Mbappé’s cross but the rest of the first half was more impressive because of the way Newcastle enjoyed off.
They abandoned their chests and pinged their one-touch passes; PSG came to look worried and very deadly. Livramento isn’t supposed to be a back right? And, yes, that was really the 17-year-old, Lewis Miley, seeing as he was in the middle of the field on the right – close to the orbit of Mbappé. It could have been 2-0 when Isak almost got away from Milan Skriniar, who was the last man. Skriniar seemed to handle as he fell on the ball while defending.
Howe’s XI was the only one he could have chosen, and such was the depth of his selection crisis. And his concern was what was on the bench or what he didn’t have; its ability to change the game. Managers are allowed to nominate 11 representatives in this competition; Howe had seven. They were two, three teenager goalkeepers from the academy who were barely used. What was left of his starters in the second half?
Luis Enrique changed his strategy. PSG were less furious, more controlled. The idea was to kill Newcastle, turn them on, drain them. “Sing your heart out to the lads,” said the visiting fencer.
Related: PSG v Newcastle United: Champions League – live
Examine PSG. Dembélé went into the goal, receiving a shot that was in the toe but only the Pope was there to block it, the ball looping up to Mbappé, who went on the volley. Newcastle’s formation began to look more like a 4-5-1, although Anthony Gordon continued to threaten on the counter. Skriniar fouled him cynically when he looked to be through.
PSG pressure. The drums beat louder. It felt as if the equalizer was coming. Substitute Bradley Barcola had to score from Mbappé’s cut only to thwart the Pope – again. Barcola dragged another chance wide and there were desperate PSG shouts for penalties. PSG would live just under it.
