The ‘Magpies’ thrashed Luis Enrique’s men in the return of the Champions League to St. James’ Park 20 years later
Through the big door. This is how the Champions League returned 20 years later to St. James’ Park, which led Newcastle to run over PSG of an unknown Kylian Mbappé (4-1). The ‘magpies’ relived their nights of glory in Europe to impose a harsh corrective on Luis Enrique‘s team, increasingly questioned in Paris. The ‘magpies’ flew above the Parisians, disconnected at times, without automatisms and with their great star going completely unnoticed. Mbappé ‘s condition is worrying, dejected, and lazy on a night when his team ends up derailing. Almirón, Burn, Longstaff, and Schär gave the victory to a Newcastle that takes the lead in the so-called group of death.
It has been two decades without Champions football in the Newcastle fiefdom and the English fans threw themselves into their team. There was no room for a pin in St. James’ Park and the roar of the stands took its toll on PSG from the start. The Parisians came out eager, but the inaccuracies in the passes and the boldness of the ‘magpies’ made them hesitate. A little, enough for Newcastle to take advantage of it with a first blow from Almirón.
The Paraguayan’s goal took its toll on PSG, with Marquinhos and Skriniar completely overwhelmed by the intense pressure from Eddie Howe’s men. Luis Enrique had started with four forwards -Mbappé, Dembélé, Kolo Muani, and Gonçalo Ramos-, but he unprotected the midfield and ended up paying for it.
Newcastle was a steamroller in a magical first half that ended with two goals under its belt, as a header from Burn after a convoluted play put the second on the scoreboard.
A reaction from PSG was expected at half-time, but the script changed little. Newcastle continued to show muscle in their pressure and in a quick transition they scored the third with a shot from Longstaff. Deserved punishment for the Parisians, who at no time played as a block.
Lucas Hernández ‘s goal, after a luxury assist from Zaïre-Emery, seemed to cheer PSG, who ended up thrashing with Schär’s fourth in stoppage time.
Disastrous statistics of Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique, who seems to be in the black when traveling in the Champions League, is very touched. The last three that the Asturian has coached – two with Barcelona – ended in failure: 4-0 in Paris, 3-0 in Turin, and 4-1 in Newcastle. 11 goals against and only one in favor, a devastating statistic for a coach of his level.