Newcastle 4-1 PSG: Fabian Schar’s long-range stunner caps historic Champions League victory over French giants

By James On Oct 4, 2023

Fabian Schar’s sensational long-range goal capped a stunning 4-1 thrashing of Paris Saint-Germain as Newcastle topped Group F in their first Champions League match at St James’ Park in 20 years.

In an emotional and highly charged atmosphere in the North East, Eddie Howe’s side roared into a three-goal lead as Newcastle youth fans Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff found the net either side of half-time after Miguel Almiron’s early opener.

PSG pulled one back through Lucas Hernandez but the hosts showed impressive resilience to hold off a fightback and sealed a historic victory when Schar fired a brilliant effort into the top corner to send the home fans to dreamland.

The victory, over a side that reached the final of the competition just three years ago, was Newcastle’s biggest ever in the Champions League and made all the more impressive by the fact they were without key players Sven Botman, Callum Wilson and Joelinton.

PSG boss Luis Enrique started Kylian Mbappe as part of a quadruple attack, but Newcastle limited the 24-year-old to just one shot on target in an unforgettable night for the club that serves as a statement of intent for their return to Europe’s top flight. table.

How Newcastle blew PSG away

Howe had called on his players to use ‘controlled emotion’ on a monumental night for the club and that’s exactly what they did. They remained calm after Ousmane Dembélé hit Mbappé’s early cross inches wide and then took control.

PSG’s plan was to invite Newcastle’s press to exploit the space behind them, but it backfired spectacularly when Bruno Guimaraes stuck out a loose Marquinhos pass for the opening goal.

The Brazilian’s interception fell to Alexander Isak, whose shot on the swivel was parried by Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Almiron was there to direct the rebound into the bottom corner, sparking an explosion of celebration in the ground.

PSG tried to muster a response, with Warren Zaire-Emery firing a long-range effort wide, but their 4-2-4 system left them completely outnumbered in midfield and they were soon overrun.

The second goal, driven over the line by Burn from Guimaraes’ chipped cross after a Kieran Trippier free-kick, was awarded after a three-minute VAR check, with the referees first checking for offside and then a possible Jamal Lascelles handball .

The delay only made the ensuing celebrations even clearer and Newcastle’s evening got even better shortly after half-time when Longstaff met a pass from Trippier and unleashed an angled shot that Donnarumma could not stop.

PSG looked shell-shocked at the time but hit back when Zaire-Emery’s chipped pass was headed past Nick Pope by Hernandez, briefly giving the visitors hope of a turnaround.

But Newcastle, who had kept five clean sheets in a row in the build-up to the match, once again showed formidable resilience.

After PSG struggled to create chances, Schar stole possession high up the pitch, exchanged passes with substitute Jacob Murphy and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner to seal an extraordinary victory.

Howe: A great night for us

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said: “A great night for us.

“There are so many stories to talk about during the match itself, but above all we are happy for everyone associated with the club. What the supporters gave us tonight was incredible.”

“They are such a good team. We had to defend really well and we did that. I thought our spirit and energy collectively were excellent.

“The positive things we had in the first half we created by pressing very aggressively, everything that characterizes us when we play well.

“In the second half we had to dig deep and get over the line.”

Longstaff: I thought I was done at Newcastle

Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff said, “It’s an evening. I think as a group we knew it would be special because of the atmosphere.

“But for me and Dan Burn to score tonight is unreal, I have no words for it!

“There are a few who thought they were out the door three years ago. Things have been great since we took over. It’s been an incredible night and I’m over the moon.

‘My family will be proud, they will be drunk too! They don’t go out on Wednesday nights, but maybe they do now.

“This is the elite of the elite and they have some of the best players in the world. Going against them was great. There is still a lot to improve, but tonight we will celebrate.”

When he was given Mbappé’s shirt after the match, he said: “I stopped him on the goal kick and I got it for my little brother!”

Asked if anyone from Newcastle will be going to work on Thursday, he said: “I hope not. If they need an excuse not to go in, there’s certainly one for this.”

Luis Enrique: We paid for our mistakes

PSG boss Luis Enrique said: “It was a difficult night. I don’t think we deserved a result like that, but they were so effective in the last part of the field and we made a number of mistakes.

“At that level it’s always difficult to accept that, but if you make mistakes you have to pay for them.

“I think the idea of welcoming their pressure worked. We tried to put as many chances in front of their goal as possible, but we didn’t work that effectively.”

Analysis: Unlikely heroes let Toon dream

How do you even begin to summarize such a mind-bogglingly brilliant evening for Newcastle? “I’m at a loss for words,” said goalscorer Sean Longstaff after their third goal. He could be too.

Many thought his days were numbered when the Saudis took over, transforming the club’s financial power overnight, but here he is, two years later, as one of two Newcastle fans from his youth , along with defender Dan Burn, who not only played but also scored in a historic championship match. League victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

The identity of their goalscorers reflects the incredible work of manager Eddie Howe. Newcastle’s wealth is unparalleled, but this is not a team of superstars. Miguel Almiron was a punchline not too long ago. Fabian Schar was bought under Rafael Benitez for £3 million.

But these are the players who helped Newcastle to the Champions League last season, so it was fitting that they were the center of attention on Wednesday evening as they officially announced their arrival in the competition at a jubilant St. James’ Park.

Newcastle were without some key figures – including the injured Sven Botman, Callum Wilson and Joelinton – but that didn’t matter. Kylian Mbappé and his teammates were among those who looked intimidated by the occasion, awash in the black and white shirts.

Howe spoke afterwards of the “spirit and energy” of his team, but it was difficult for him to do justice to what he had seen. “There are so many stories to talk about,” he said. Newcastle fans, including Longstaff and Burn, will enjoy these stories for years to come.

PSG’s Tyneside woe – Opta stats

PSG suffered their heaviest Champions League group stage defeat since a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in September 2004, conceding four in a single group match in the competition for the first time since a 3-4 defeat to Deportivo de La Coruna in March . 2001.
PSG failed to register a single shot on target in the first half against Anderlecht in the Champions League group stage for the first time since November 2013. They then scored with their very first shot on target of the match in the 56th minute through Lucas Hernandez.
PSG have won just two of their last ten away games in the Champions League (D3 L5), and only three of their twelve away games against English teams in the competition (D3 L6).

What’s next?

Newcastle’s next order of business is a Premier League trip to West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday 8 October (kick-off 2pm).

PSG get back to the Ligue 1 action by traveling to Rennesalso on Sunday (kick-off 7.45 pm).

Newcastle’s They will host the next Champions League match Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, October 25 (kick-off 8 p.m.). PSG sight AC Milan home the same evening.