In what was anticipated to be a tightly contested battle from the outset, Group F of the Champions League lived up to expectations as Paris St Germain (PSG) and Newcastle United played out a dramatic 1-1 draw. The French giants, PSG, are still in control of their destiny in the group, but the outcome hangs in the balance.
Manager Luis Enrique expressed a palpable sense of relief as Kylian Mbappe converted a penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage time, rescuing a crucial point for PSG at home against a resilient Newcastle United side. The visitors, led by Swedish striker Alexander Isak, had taken the lead in the first half, and they were on the verge of a memorable victory until a late twist of fate.
Newcastle’s Tino Livramento was deemed to have handled the ball in a contentious decision, leading to a penalty for PSG. Mbappe made no mistake from the spot, leaving PSG in second place with seven points, three behind the already-qualified Borussia Dortmund, whom they face in their final group match.
The intricacies of Group F mean that only a victory in Dortmund guarantees PSG a spot in the last-16. However, the group’s complexity allows for various scenarios, and PSG could still progress even with a loss. Newcastle, on the other hand, must secure a win against seven-time European champions AC Milan in their last game and hope PSG doesn’t emerge victorious to secure the second spot. AC Milan, too, retains the chance to reach the last-16 with a victory at St James’ Park.
Luis Enrique acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating, “The most important thing is to focus on ourselves. If we win, we’re going to finish first, but even if we lose, we can go through to the next phase.” Despite a 4-1 defeat to Newcastle in their previous encounter, Enrique remains hopeful and emphasized the need for a win against Dortmund.
Despite PSG’s 31 goal attempts in the match against Newcastle, they struggled to convert their chances. Enrique noted, “I think we deserved to win, we created a lot of clear chances, and, at times, it was difficult to get the ball in.”
Newcastle, despite a long injury list and evident fatigue, displayed resilience and a sense of injustice as they left the Parc des Princes pitch. Manager Eddie Howe praised his team’s efforts, singling out goalkeeper Nick Pope and 17-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley for their standout performances. Livramento, the unfortunate recipient of the penalty decision, was also recognized as a promising talent.
Howe maintained a level-headed perspective on the penalty decision, saying, “I thought the referee was having a good game up until this moment. He had been strong.” While acknowledging the deflating feeling, Howe remained optimistic about Newcastle’s chances in the competition, stating, “We still believe. As much as it’s a huge, deflating feeling — it could be another story in our season.”
The Champions League Group F climax promises further excitement and uncertainty as the fate of PSG, Newcastle United, and AC Milan hangs in the balance.
