It is a shootout at the Parc des Princes against the European champions and if the scenario can sound impossibly glamorous for Newcastle, it has the potential to bring a second dose of cruelty in the French capital.
For now, the team eighth in the Premier League occupy a higher position in the Champions League. They could be forgiven for wishing the league phase only lasted seven games, that the table could be frozen now.
As it is, it speaks to progress. A third straight Champions League win at St James’ Park came courtesy of Yoane Wissa’s best night in black and white, with the latest proof Anthony Gordon is prolific in Europe, if not England, and further evidence Harvey Barnes is excellent in each. PSV Eindhoven, demolishers of Napoli and Liverpool, were brushed aside. Newcastle, who began the evening 13th, ended it seventh.
They are behind next week’s opponents, Paris Saint-Germain, only on goals scored. “We are in very good company,” said Eddie Howe. Yet the mass of teams on their shoulder means victory in France is probably required for direct passage into the last 16.
“We have one of the most difficult if not the most difficult last game and we were well aware of that,” added Howe. It is a repeat of the fixture when a controversial injury-time penalty cost them victory in 2023. “A painful end,” said the Newcastle manager. Memories will be stirred again.
Yet that is for next week, which may be a nervous one for the Dutch champions. PSV had not lost on their travels since March, since they went down to Go Ahead Eagles, but this was a result that leaves them at risk of tumbling out of the top 24. They fell prey to Newcastle’s pressing, looking naive as Howe’s side picked them off.
They were harried to defeat, just as Newcastle were propelled onwards by their all-action attackers. Gordon continues to have split footballing personalities, impotent in the Premier League – his only two goals have been penalties – and yet seemingly unstoppable in Europe. A sixth Champions League goal means only Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane have more. Barnes, with five, is not far behind. Indeed, he has five in all competitions in 2026 at St James’ Park. He can look like the best finisher at the club.
But the initial impetus came from Wissa. Preferred to Nick Woltemade, he showed why. Bought to be ready for the Premier League, he was instead injured for his first three months on Tyneside. Yet he made an immediate impact in the Champions League. His was not the smoothest of finishes, but it has not been the smoothest of introductions. “It has been a tough start for him here,” said Howe. “In part he came to this club for nights like today.”
Wissa got one minute in Leverkusen in December but, at the age of 29, this was a belated first real taste of the Champions League. After the long wait, a goal came inside eight minutes, completing a rise from the French second division. “It has been a great journey,” said Howe. “His career at Brentford was brilliant to watch from afar, I loved his attitude and he scored a lot of goals.”
That said, Wissa was not the only forward with Newcastle connections to go on strike last summer to force a move. If neither situation was particularly edifying, Wissa now has as many Champions League goals as Alexander Isak has mustered in his career. For good measure, the £55m man had an assist before the break.
Although, arguably, PSV assisted Newcastle. If Nick Pope’s kicking was poor at the start, the significant goalkeeping error came from his PSV counterpart. Newcastle struck when Matej Kovar miscued a pass. Bruno Guimaraes’ aim was surer, picking out Joelinton, who squared unselfishly. Wissa’s finish was scuffed but it bobbled in. He had been offside when he went to close down Kovar, but his finish counted as the second phase. The goal stood.
The lead was doubled after a second disastrous piece of defending from PSV. Yasik Gasiorowski was caught dawdling in possession by Wissa, sliding in to set up Gordon. The winger had a tap-in. It should compound PSV’s annoyance that they had conceded in almost identical fashion to Atletico Madrid.
So a Newcastle side who waited 85 minutes for a shot on target against Wolves had two goals in half an hour. Thereafter, Barnes sashayed through for a terrific solo goal. The only blight on Newcastle’s night came when they lost the injured captain Guimaraes. Howe reported that he had a swollen ankle. “For Bruno to come off it is a worrying sign but fingers crossed,” he added.
It was the only worry. PSV posed too little threat and Newcastle have only conceded to Marcus Rashford at St James’ Park in Europe this season. PSV can be great entertainers but, after a sopping wet day on Tyneside, Peter Bosz’s team delivered a damp squib of a performance.
So Newcastle saw off PSV. Now for PSG. It may be a revenge mission, but the stakes of another Paris match extend beyond that.
