Newcastle United have secured a place in the last-16 play-offs of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League after a commanding victory over PSV Eindhoven.
Before kick-off, the home crowd urged their team to “write the next headline” at St James’ Park. A vast banner and lifesize newspaper cuttings framed a stadium already buzzing with belief.
That headline arrived quickly through Yoane Wissa, recalled after the weekend draw with Wolves. PSV goalkeeper Matej Kovar’s poor clearance fell to Bruno Guimaraes, who released Joelinton for Wissa’s composed finish.
Wissa soon turned provider as Newcastle struck again through Anthony Gordon. Pressing high, he forced another PSV error, sliding the ball across for Gordon to tap into an empty net.
The goal was a historic one as Gordon equalled Alan Shearer’s club record of six goals in a single Champions League season. Newcastle’s aggression had already tilted the contest decisively.
After the break, the hosts showed no mercy as Harvey Barnes added a third. He capitalised on Jerdy Schouten’s weak header, wriggling free before finishing clinically.
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Wissa sets the tempo as Newcastle eye bigger European nights
Although Newcastle celebrated freely, there was concern when Guimaraes limped off with an ankle issue. Even so, Eddie Howe’s side climbed to seventh in the standings.
With a play-off secured, automatic qualification remains possible. That would require a landmark result against holders Paris Saint-Germain in their final league-phase match.
PSV, meanwhile, slipped to 22nd after a night to forget. Their defensive lapses were repeatedly exposed by Newcastle’s pace and pressing.
Wissa embodied that edge, pressing Kovar before the opener and harrying Yarek Gasiorowski before the second. His energy set the tone throughout.
Only days earlier at Molineux, Newcastle failed to register a shot on target until late in the encounter. Here, their frontline thrived, with Barnes joining Gordon and Wissa on the scoresheet. As the game wore on, Howe rotated freely, removing key attackers midway through the second half. Nineteen-year-old Lewis Miley even wore the captain’s armband late on.
Like wins over Benfica and Athletic Club, Newcastle made European football feel natural again. On this night, the headline wrote itself.
Tags: Newcastle, PSV, #NEWPSV, #ChampionsLeague, Yohan Wissa, #UCL, #NUFC, Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes.
