- Newcastle and PSG face each other in the Champions League group stage tonight
- Prior to kick-off, both groups of supporters were involved in pre-match antics
- Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp channel: receive the latest news and exclusive offers here
PSG fans clashed with Newcastle supporters ahead of their Champions League match on Wednesday evening.
Eddie Howe’s side will host the French champions for the second match of their European campaign this season after drawing 0-0 with AC Milan last time out.
However, among the excitement tonight there were some nasty scenes as supporters and fans clashed ahead of kick-off at St James’ Park.
In a video that appeared on X (formerly known as Twitter), supporters were seen walking past each other, with police between them and projectiles being thrown.
A number of items, including bottles and flares, flew through the air in the video that went viral ahead of kick-off.
PSG fans pictured as they marched through Newcastle on their way to St James’ Park
Newcastle fans stood outside the stadium and watched the French supporters enter
A video on social media showed a clash between fans ahead of kick-off on Wednesday
Your browser does not support iframes.
In another video which appeared on X (formerly known as Twitter) shows a PSG fan behaving aggressively and apparently throwing a punch at a supporter.
The PSG fans had been escorted by police officers to the appropriate away section of the stadium, but not before some unsavory scenes occurred.
Fan marches are a common aspect of European supporters’ challenges and can sometimes lead to the two groups of supporters clashing before kick-off.
PSG will be looking to follow up last week’s 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, where Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi struck for the home side.
Despite the unpleasant scenes, the match promises to be an exciting affair when the Magpies go head-to-headThe perennial French champions – who have dominated the domestic scene since being acquired by the Qatar Investment Authority in 2012.
Financed by Qatar Sports Investments, PSG have enjoyed significant success, but the Champions League remains elusive with just one final to their name in 2020.
Their latest push for Champions League glory comes against a side heading down the same path, with Newcastle’s return to the competition seen as just the beginning as the majority comes courtesy of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The match is also notable off the field as it pits the best-known clubs from Qatar and Saudi Arabia against each other on the field, given past tensions between the two Gulf states.
Another video on social media showed a fan throwing a punch as PSG supporters marched through Newcastle
One supporter is arrested on the spot by the police after the conflict prior to the match