Newcastle United grabbed a tremendous 2-0 win against Athletic Club in the UEFA Champions League on Thursday. This victory means that it’s their third straight victory in the pagent! The match took place at St. James’ Park and saw Dan Burn open the scoring with a remarkable header in the 11th minute, assisted by Kieran Trippier’s expertly taken free-kick. Joelinton continued to extend the scoreline soon after the interval, scoring from a cross by Harvey Barnes. That victory moved Newcastle into the top six on the Champions League table.
The impact on this match was immediate in the unfortunate moment when Evertshiedla lost Anthony Gordon to injury. He was forced in the first half to be replaced after his hip issue re-occurred. Even with this miscue, Newcastle’s back line stood strong, posting the third-straight clean sheet in the tournament.
Early Breakthrough
Dan Burn gave Newcastle the lead just two minutes into the match. He opened the scoring in just the 11th minute with a towering header that gave Athletic Club’s shot-stopper no opportunity to react. It was a magnificent strike and it was prepared on the training ground from Newcastle. Kieran Trippier whipped in a deliciously driven free-kick, and Burn attacked it with majesty.
“I’ve been due one for a while, and the ball came in, I decided I was going to head it as hard as I could, and luckily it went in the far corner,” – Dan Burn
Speaking after the game, Newcastle’s boss, Eddie Howe, lauded Burn’s influence and compared his goal to some of the best historic goals.
“It was very reminiscent of the cup final, wasn’t it? It was an incredible header from distance, and he’s arrowed it into the top corner,” – Eddie Howe
Burn’s opening goal highlighted his immense ability in the air and on set pieces. He joins Newcastle legends Alan Shearer and Faustino Asprilla, who left their mark with headers in key matches, on the Magpies pantheon of players.
Second Half Surge
It took only six minutes of the second half for Newcastle to double their money, Joelinton rifling home less than five minutes after the restart. Harvey Barnes put in an inch-perfect cross. He made the run beautifully and finished emphatically, putting Newcastle in complete control of the game.
Eddie Howe expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, noting that they needed a strong response after a disappointing previous outing against West Ham.
“Really pleased with today because it was an important response to West Ham. I think that was a really disappointing day. We had a really quick turnaround for this game, and we prioritised a few things in our performance,” – Eddie Howe
Newcastle’s composure under pressure and ruthlessness in front of goal was a clear indicator of how this team began to grow in confidence as the tournament progressed.
Strong Defense
Defensively, Newcastle looked formidable, with Athletic Club never really looking like creating a way back into the tie. It took two important Nick Pope saves to deny substitute Nico Serrano a goal. In the end, his production was crucial in helping Newcastle walk away from the match with a clean sheet.
What Newcastle’s last two league outings and their mightily impressive debut UEFA Champions League group stage variable attractions, be selling a proper story in their defensive setup. They’ve gone an impressive three matches without conceding a goal in the competition.
Beyond just his impacts defensively, Kieran Trippier has been an insane force offensively in terms of his assists and in general alongside other players. His total has now risen to 25 assists in all competitions since arriving at Newcastle.
“Yes, it was a training ground move. Well done to all the coaches involved in that,” – Eddie Howe
That win over Athletic Club solidifies Newcastle’s place on the tight Champions League lobby. It further signals their potential to compete for top awards this season.
Leave a Reply