Staff Reporter.
Newcastle United welcomed Champions League football back to St. James’ Park in style as Paris St-Germain were overpowered in a highly-charged atmosphere on Tyneside.
The French champions – including superstar Kylian Mbappe – found the atmosphere and intensity on and off the pitch just too much as Eddie Howe’s side secured a richly-deserved win in Newcastle’s first home game in Europe’s elite competition since a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in March 2003.
The Toon Army had already transformed St. James’ Park into four walls of black and white even before Miguel Almiron sent them wild by giving them a 17th-minute lead after PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma could only palm out Alexander Isak’s shot, as Marquinhos was punished for carelessly conceding possession.
It was to prove an eventful night for Italy keeper Donnarumma, who tried in vain to claw out Dan Burn’s towering header six minutes before half-time. The ball had already crossed the line but Newcastle still had to wait for a video assistant referee check for offside before the celebrations could begin.
Donnarumma was a central figure again as Newcastle went three up five minutes after the break, the goalkeeper’s poor attempt at a block allowing Sean Longstaff’s powerful shot from an angle to creep in.
PSG’s threats were rare but they did pull one back after 56 minutes through Lucas Hernandez’s header – but this was Newcastle’s night from start to finish.
Swiss centre-back Fabian Schar added the icing on the cake in stoppage time as he curled a stunning shot past Donnarumma from the edge of the box into the top corner to make it 4-1.
The three points, added to an opening draw away to AC Milan, mean Newcastle go top of Group F.
Meanwhile substitutes Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku scored late goals as Manchester City recovered from back-to-back defeats to beat RB Leipzig 3-1 in the Champions League.
Defending champions City, who came into the game on the back of losses to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup and Wolves in the Premier League, looked in complete control in the first half.
Phil Foden gave them a deserved lead with a difficult shot on the bounce following a cutback by Rico Lewis.
Leipzig scored with their first shot on target, as Lois Openda raced onto a through ball before slotting the ball past Ederson via the inside of the post.
But it was all City from then with Foden hitting the post with a free-kick and Erling Haaland missing a host of chances.
Five minutes after coming off the bench, Alvarez lifted a perfectly weighted shot into the top corner from the edge of the box following a pass by Doku.
The Argentine then found Doku in space and he sped away to score a late third and seal the points.
City will be relieved to get back to winning ways as they prepare to visit title rivals Arsenal on Sunday.
Elsewhere Celtic endured late heartbreak as Pedro’s 95th-minute winner consigned the Scottish champions to another Champions League defeat.
Kyogo Furuhashi showed great composure to slide in his first goal in the competition to ignite a rowdy Celtic Park early on.
However, indecision in the home defence was punished midway through the first half as Matias Vecino was afforded space to glance in a header.
Brendan Rodgers’ side thought they’d snatched a late winner through Luis Palma only for VAR to intervene, however Celtic’s anguish would grow further as the Italians dramatically struck with just seconds left.
Describe that night in one word ?#UCL pic.twitter.com/SqGMeUQsGG
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 4, 2023
With Atletico Madrid beating Feyenoord 3-2 in Spain, it means Celtic, who have now not won at home in the Champions League for 10 years, sit bottom of Group E with no points after two games ahead of a double header against the Spaniards.