There are many ways to self-destruct on a football pitch but PSV Eindhoven chose one of the more obvious methods.
In opting to play out slowly from the back against high-pressing opponents possessing forwards blessed with the speed and skill of Yoane Wissa and Anthony Gordon, Peter Bosz’s team were always likely to come undone.
Their inevitable unravelling left an excellent Newcastle on course for the Champions League knockout phase. While Eddie Howe’s side are already guaranteed a place in the playoffs to determine the composition of March’s round of 16, they can still bypass next month’s two-legged tie by finishing in the top eight.
Much hinges on Wednesday’s trip to Paris Saint-Germain for a set of players with a habit of forgetting their domestic travails and raising their game on European nights. At times it was all so straightforward for Newcastle here it was hard to credit that this was PSV’s first defeat on the road in 10 months.
“It was a great performance,” said Howe. “And a great atmosphere. But, of course, I’m aware we have one of the most, if not the most difficult, final game at PSG.”
Newcastle’s manager had urged home fans to show his players their “love” and create a club that’s “all in love with each other” and those in the Gallowgate End responded by unfurling a giant banner emblazoned with the message: “Write the next headline”.
The subtext clearly challenged Gordon, Wissa and other sometimes underachieving members of Howe’s peculiarly inconsistent team to embrace the European spotlight.
Wissa, starting his first Champions League game, did not take long to do precisely that. When Matej Kovar’s weak clearance flew straight to Bruno Guimarães, Newcastle’s captain promptly played in Joelinton courtesy of a perfect pass. He, in turn, squared for the £55m former Brentford striker to lift his shot over the prone goalkeeper.
Howe had asked his players to live up to the attacking values instilled here during Sir Bobby Robson’s tenure. Given that Robson also managed PSV Eindhoven with some distinction it was an evocative night.
Bosz’s teams are invariably entertaining but PSV’s head coach was forced to watch his side struggle horribly defensively while failing to properly test Nick Pope in a game controlled by Newcastle.
The Dutch champions and clear Eredivisie leaders arrived protecting an unbeaten away record stretching back to March last year but, judging by his arms-folded stance, Bosz swiftly knew it was under severe threat.
PSV are noted for defensive risktaking but when Gordon took his turn to rise to the Gallowgate End’s challenge he was assisted by the visitors’ second significant mistake of the evening.
Quick GuideChampions League roundup: Kane secures Bayern’s path
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Harry Kane struck twice in three minutes to carry Bayern Munich to a 2-0 victory over Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League on Wednesday and book their ticket for the knockout stage with a game to spare.
Bayern’s top scorer headed in at the near post from a Michael Olise corner in the 52nd minute then and added another from the penalty spot after he was brought down. The England captain could have sealed his hat-trick in the 80th minute but hammered his second penalty on to the crossbar. The hosts were down to 10 men from the 64th minute after defender Kim Min-jae was sent off with a second booking. Bayern are in second spot in the league phase on 18 points with one game left to play.
Barcelona came from behind to defeat Slavia Prague 4-2 on a freezing night in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Fermin López scoring twice and Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski adding second-half goals to secure the victory.
Slavia stunned the visitors with a Vasil Kusej goal from a cleverly worked corner in the 10th minute but López equalised from close range in the 34th. He doubled his tally with a fine effort from the edge of the box but Barça’s advantage lasted two minutes, with Lewandowski deflecting a corner into his own goal.Hansi Flick’s side took back control in the second half and strikes by Olmo and Lewandowski sealed a deserved win.
Athletic Bilbao mounted a superb second-half comeback to defeat Atalanta 3-2 and bring renewed hope of progression to the playoffs.
Atalanta commanded the first half and opened the scoring when Gianluca Scamacca headed firmly past Unai Simón. Bilbao grew into the game after the break and equalised through Gorka Guruzeta. Ernesto Valverde’s side turned the match on its head in the 70th minute when the substitute Nico Serrano scored a well-taken goal two minutes after coming on.
The momentum was all with the visitors, who added a third just four minutes later when Robert Navarro slotted the ball past Marco Carnesecchi. Atalanta clawed one back in the dying minutes through Nikola Krstovic scored but the surprise defeat leaves them needing a win against Union Saint-Gilloise to secure automatic qualification.
As Yarek Gasiorowski, pressured by Wissa, lingered in possession before attempting to pass back to Kovar, Wissa intercepted and squared for Gordon to stroke home.
The England winger has been underwhelming in domestic football recently but the Champions League has been a different story. This was Gordon’s sixth European goal this season, making him Newcastle’s joint-leading scorer in the competition alongside Alan Shearer. In the Premier League he has scored twice in 17 matches.
Once again PSV’s attempts to build patiently from the back had foundered in the face of a high, hard Newcastle press led, expertly, by Wissa but Howe’s delight was tempered by the sight of Guimarães clearly struggling with an ankle injury.
In first-half stoppage time Newcastle’s captain finally limped off to be replaced by Lewis Miley. With Aston Villa due here on Sunday for a league game that could prove pivotal in the qualification race for next season’s Champions League, Guimarães’s likely absence will be felt keenly. “It’s sore and swollen but we hope it’s not too serious,” said Howe who at least saw Miley impress.
Stronger opponents might have capitalised during those minutes Guimarães hobbled around the pitch but PSV seemed too petrified by his midfield sidekick Joelinton’s intense aggression to benefit. The Brazilian’s stellar performance played a very big part in leaving Bosz’s players utterly cowed.
Two-goal leads can be notoriously fragile yet this contest was over well before Harvey Barnes met Pope’s deflected long kick, ran at the defence and curved a left-foot shot beyond the advancing Kovar to score his fifth Champions League goal this season.
St James’ Park celebrated with poignant renditions of “Only one Bobby Robson” as PSV supporters probably wondered why Sven Botman, excellent in central defence for Newcastle, is not yet part of the Netherlands squad.
