Champions League hits and misses: Newcastle's unlikely heroes have Magpies dreaming after thrashing PSG summed up by Kylian Mbappe misery
Newcastle picked up a 4-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain thanks to goals from local lads Sean Longstaff and Dan Burn; Manchester City got back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory at RB Leipzig, with Rico Lewis impressing; Celtic suffered late heartbreak in a 2-1 loss to Lazio
Wednesday 4 October 2023 23:43, UK
How do you even begin to sum up such a mind-bogglingly brilliant night for Newcastle? «I'm lost for words,» said Sean Longstaff, scorer of their third goal afterwards. As well he might be.
Many thought his days were numbered when the Saudis took over, transforming the club's financial clout overnight, but here is, two years later, as one of two boyhood Newcastle fans, along with defender Dan Burn, not only playing but scoring in a historic Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain.
The identities of their scorers speak to the incredible work done by manager Eddie Howe. Newcastle's wealth is unmatched, but this is no team of superstars. Miguel Almiron was a punchline not long ago. Fabian Schar was a £3m buy under Rafael Benitez.
But these are the players who helped haul Newcastle into the Champions League last season so it was fitting that they were centre stage on Wednesday night, when, at a jubilant St James' Park, they truly announced their arrival in the competition.
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Newcastle were without several key figures — Sven Botman, Callum Wilson and Joelinton among the injured — but it did not matter. Kylian Mbappe and his team-mates were the ones who looked cowed by the occasion, overrun by the black-and-white shirts.
Howe talked up his team's «spirit and energy» afterwards but it was hard for him to do justice to what he had witnessed. «There are so
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