Lotto Park had started to empty, but the hoarse Newcastle United fans standing in the away end did not want to leave after witnessing their team defeat Union Saint-Gilloise 4-0 in Brussels. “This is the best trip I’ve ever been on,” the traveling supporters sang repeatedly at full-time.
Their enthusiasm was well-founded. Newcastle United recorded their biggest Champions League win, thanks to two penalties from Anthony Gordon and goals from Nick Woltemade and substitute Harvey Barnes. This achievement once seemed unimaginable for Geordies when the club was battling relegation not long ago. However, Eddie Howe’s side has qualified for the Champions League in two of the past three seasons.
Newcastle’s Champions League Journey
This emphatic away win marked Newcastle’s first victory in the competition since 2003, showcasing that Howe’s players belong at Europe’s top table. “They should [believe] and there’s no reason why we can’t win games at this level home and away,” Howe stated confidently. “We have got the players and the squad to do that. Maybe you have to do it to believe it yourself, but I’m already there. I know we can.”
The tone was set long before kick-off. Howe has been rotating his team while competing on multiple fronts in the opening weeks of the season. However, it was telling that the Newcastle head coach made only two changes for this game, one of which was enforced due to Tino Livramento’s knee injury.
Strategic Choices and Tactical Execution
The Premier League’s joint-lowest goalscorers needed to ignite their offensive play. “There has been a lack of good football in general,” Gordon told TNT Sports. “We have defended really well, been organized, but have lacked that spark and creativity. We really wanted to put emphasis on getting that back tonight.”
Newcastle did not underestimate Union, especially after their weekend’s painful defeat against Arsenal. Despite being newcomers in the competition, Union had beaten PSV in their first-ever Champions League game last month and had not lost any of their opening nine top-flight fixtures. Union’s recent progress in European competitions has given them a significantly higher coefficient than Newcastle.
“They played top level, all the Newcastle players played top level, so it shows that they had great respect for us.” – Sebastien Pocognoli, Union Manager
Match Analysis: Key Players and Moments
Union managed as many shots on target as Newcastle, but the visitors were ruthless. Newcastle capitalized on space out wide, with Anthony Elanga and Gordon exploiting the flanks. Elanga, the player of the match, was instrumental in both of Newcastle’s opening goals. His cross led to Sandro Tonali’s shot, which deflected off Woltemade for the first goal. Elanga then won the first-half penalty that Gordon converted for the second.
Gordon’s influence continued as he converted another spot-kick for Newcastle’s third goal and won the ball back seconds before substitute Barnes finished a clinical breakaway goal late on. It was no surprise that Howe felt his side “could score at any moment.”
Implications and Future Prospects
“We’re a progressive football team,” Howe emphasized. “I don’t want us to play negative football or sometimes play too much in our build-up phase. That doesn’t bring out the best in us. We’ve got very dynamic players, and I want us to get them the ball as early as possible. I want to attack, I want to score, and I want people who come to watch us to feel there’s a team there that’s trying to make the game in a positive way. I thought we saw that today – it was a return to our best style.”
This victory not only boosts Newcastle’s confidence but also solidifies their standing in the Champions League. As they continue their campaign, Howe’s side will look to maintain this momentum and further establish themselves as a formidable force in European football. With strategic planning and a dynamic squad, Newcastle’s future in the Champions League looks promising.
