PLAYER RATINGS | Newcastle 4-1 PSG: Parisiens stunned in heaviest UCL group stage defeat of QSI era
The Magpies stun Les Parisiens in a decisive Champions League routing which is Paris Saint-Germain’s worst in the QSI era in the competition at the group stage. Almiron struck first thanks to a Marquinhos mistake, before goals from Burn, Longstaff, and Shär capped off a disastrous evening for PSG. Hernandez with the consolation goal for Enrique’s side.
Luis Enrique started the match with a surprise 4-2-4 formation, lining up with four attackers. But this experimentation in the high-pressure environment of the Champions League didn’t pay off, and it was the high-pressing Magpies that took full advantage as quickly as the 15th minute. Marquinhos’ wayward pass was headed into Isak, and the Swede’s strike was diverted to Miguel Almiron who finished low to score Newcastle’s first goal in the Champions League in 20 years. Cue the St James’ Park eruption and an energy which pushed Eddie Howe’s side that little bit further in the opening stages of the game.
The Toon had more to cheer about on the 40th minute, after some relentless pressure from Newcastle saw Gianluigi Donnarumma called on for several saves in a row, but Dan Burn rose highest with a towering header that was saved by the Italian shot stopper but clearly passed the goal line. A long VAR check ensued to check for offside and a claim for handball – a difficult decision with both Almiron and Achraf Hakimi seemingly handling the ball. The goal was given to Newcastle as the Premier League side entered with a deserved two-goal lead.
PSG were stunned, with very little in terms of clear chances in the first half. France captain Kylian Mbappé looked absent, with fellow Bondy attacker Randal Kolo Muani also struggling to find involvement in Enrique’s new-look front four. Yet,
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