The French champions visit St James’ Park for a tantalising Champions League Group F tie on Wednesday evening, as Newcastle United play host to Paris Saint-Germain.
Eddie Howe’s men marked their return to the big time with a hard-fought goalless stalemate away to AC Milan on matchday one, while Les Parisiens saw off Borussia Dortmund 2-0.
Returning to the dogged defensive ways that played a major part in ending their 20-year exile from Europe’s elite tournament, Newcastle were not fazed by the San Siro atmosphere during their duel with the Rossoneri, who huffed and puffed but were left to rue profligacy on matchday one.
Stand-in goalkeeper Marco Sportiello had to be alert to prevent Howe’s men from nicking all three points right at the death, and since travelling back home from Milan with a well-earned point – one which has them second in the Group F rankings – Newcastle have continued to prove unbreakable at the back.
Entering Wednesday’s game in tip-top condition on the back of a three-game winning streak, Howe’s in-form troops ended September in magnificent fashion with nine goals across 180 minutes of football – eight in a record-breaking obliteration of Sheffield United, and one to dump Manchester City out of the EFL Cup in the third round.
A Miguel Almiron stunner and Alexander Isak penalty also saw Howe’s men comfortably sweep aside Burnley 2-0 at the weekend, stretching their run of clean sheets to five successive matches in all tournaments since their 3-1 loss at Brighton & Hove Albion, which has been firmly banished to history.
Since the start of 2022, Newcastle have been subjected to a mere five competitive defeats on home turf – three of which were against Liverpool – and Wednesday’s game will see Champions League football return to St James’ Park for the first time since August 2003, where Sir Bobby Robson’s Magpies were eliminated from qualifying against Partizan on penalties.
Speaking of spot kicks, PSG’s first goal of the 2023-24 Champions League campaign came from 12 yards, as Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock just four minutes into the second half against Borussia Dortmund before Achraf Hakimi finished the job not long after.
After esteemed coaches such as Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino and Christophe Galtier failed to lift PSG’s continental curse, Les Parisiens have turned to Barcelona treble-winner Luis Enrique in a bid to finally achieve European stardom, but his side no longer strike the same level of fear into the hearts of opposing teams.
Following a statement 4-0 win over Classique rivals Marseille in front of a star-studded crowd – Thierry Henry and Selena Gomez were among those in attendance during that Parc des Princes pummelling – PSG dropped points for the fourth time in seven Ligue 1 games this term, being held to a 0-0 draw by Clermont at the weekend.
Already playing catch-up in the title race as they languish in fifth place in the standings, PSG can at least go toe-to-toe with Newcastle on the defensive resilience front – keeping clean sheets in three successive matches – and they have gone unbeaten in nine consecutive away games since their fatal 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich seven months ago.
That Allianz Arena beating marked an unlucky 13th Champions League away game without a clean sheet for Les Parisiens, who last shut out Istanbul Basaksehir away from home in October 2020, while a meagre two wins from nine European away matches offers the Magpies faithful plenty of hope ahead of their side’s inaugural competitive showdown with the Parisien powerhouses.
The Newcastle medical team have had their fair share of bumps and bruises to deal with recently – some more significant than others – as Harvey Barnes (ankle), Joe Willock (Achilles) and Sven Botman (knee) are all set to miss Wednesday’s glamour tie.
Callum Wilson’s hamstring problem is likely to render him unavailable too, while Joelinton left the field with 68 minutes gone against Burnley due to a thigh strain of his own, although Howe is confident that the Brazilian’s issue is not a serious one.
Nevertheless, the tight turnaround time will not benefit Joelinton’s chances of a speedy recovery, while Anthony Gordon is suspended for Newcastle’s upcoming Premier League clash with West Ham United but is fine to deputise for the stricken Barnes here.
Meanwhile, PSG’s star man Mbappe completed the full 90 against Clermont after shaking off an ankle scare, but up-and-coming left-back Nuno Mendes has undergone surgery on a hamstring problem and will not play again until 2024.
Marco Asensio (foot) and Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles) are alongside Mendes in the medical bay, while goalkeeper Sergio Rico remains on the long road to recovery from his head trauma – fellow shot-stopper Keylor Navas has recovered from a lower back problem, though.
Following a lackadaisical display at the weekend, Enrique should no doubt recall the likes of Manuel Ugarte and teenage sensation Warren Zaire-Emery to the engine room, while Bradley Barcola will almost certainly cede his place to the returning Lucas Hernandez.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Lascelles, Burn; Longstaff, Tonali, Guimaraes; Almiron, Isak, Gordon
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, Hernandez; Vitinha, Ugarte, Zaire-Emery; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Mbappe
We say: Newcastle United 2-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Both Newcastle and PSG have displayed admirable defensive resilience over the past few weeks, but the Magpies in particular should fear no foe after seeing off Man City – albeit a weakened Man City – in front of their own fans just a week ago.
The boisterous St James’ Park atmosphere will also play its part in intimidating the French champions, but despite the visitors’ stretch of inconsistent form, keeping Mbappe and co quiet might be a step too far for an injury-ravaged Magpies team but all in all they will settle for a draw.
