Saudi-Backed Newcastle Face Champions League Reality Check

27.11.2023 - 03:37 sports.ndtv.com

Newcastle must overcome the might of Paris Saint-Germain and a mounting injury list if the Magpies' first foray into the Champions League for 20 years is not to come to a premature end on Tuesday.

Damaging back-to-back defeats to Borussia Dortmund have left Eddie Howe's men sitting bottom of a devilishly difficult Group F, also featuring last season's semi-finalists AC Milan.

Newcastle must avoid defeat in the French capital to have any chance of reaching the last 16. Qualification looked well within the grasp of Howe's side when they humbled PSG 4-1 on Tyneside in October.

But things have since unravelled for Newcastle as an injury crisis has taken its toll despite the club being backed by the riches of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.

Football UEFA Champions League Sven Botman Callum Wilson Newcastle United Kylian Mbappe Harvey Barnes Tino Livramento Sean Longstaff Joe Willock Dan Burn Lewis Hall Paris Saint-Germain Sandro Tonali France Saudi Arabia

Manchester City threw away a 2-0 lead at home against Crystal Palace on Saturday – the fifth time in six league games that Pep Guardiola’s men have dropped points

PSG, Porto Into Champions League Last 16 As Newcastle United Exit

Paris Saint-Germain and Porto qualified for the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday as Newcastle bowed out of Europe after losing 2-1 at home to AC Milan. PSG drew 1-1 away to Group F winners Borussia Dortmund to go through as runners-up after Milan came from behind to beat Newcastle at St James' Park and eliminate Eddie Howe's side. Newcastle, who needed to win and for PSG to drop points to keep their first Champions League campaign in 20 years alive, took the lead through a brilliant Joelinton strike in the first half.

AC Milan beat Newcastle 2-1 but both teams are eliminated from the Champions League

NEWCASTLE, England: AC Milan and Newcastle were eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday after the Italian team’s 2-1 win at St. James’ Park that ensured Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappé qualified for the round of 16 instead. Milan at least claimed the consolation prize of dropping into the Europa League playoff round after Samuel Chukwueze’s 84th-minute winner lifted last season’s Champions League semifinalist above Newcastle into third place in Group F. Milan joined PSG on eight points after the six group games, but finished behind the French team courtesy of an inferior head-to-head record. “It’s a massive accomplishment,” said Christian Pulisic, who equalized for Milan in the 59th minute to become the first US international to score for three different teams in the Champions League, after Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea. “We have a chance to win a great competition.

PSG snatch Champions League last-16 spot despite draw at Dortmund

Both sides squandered a bagful of golden chances in a surprisingly goalless first half before Karim Adeyemi finally broke the deadlock for the already-qualified hosts in the 51st minute, slotting in off the post after PSG lost possession outside the box.

Eddie Howe hints Newcastle squad depth inadequate after Tottenham hammering

LONDON: Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has for the first time hinted that the Magpies’ squad is not equipped to fight on three fronts.

Saudi Arabia ready to host 2034 World Cup: Sports minister

LONDON: Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal has talked up the sporting and economic opportunities of the Kingdom hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, saying his country is ready to host the world’s biggest sporting event. In an interview with the BBC, he raised the prospect of the Kingdom hosting the competition in the summer rather than the winter, noted the importance of sport in a country where the majority of citizens are below the age of 30, and discussed the progress made by the Saudi Pro League. The government has invested over £5 billion ($6.26 billion) in sports since 2021 as part of the Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy away from dependence on fossil fuels. With the FIFA Club World Cup set to begin in the Kingdom next month, Prince Abdulaziz said Saudi Arabia is more than ready to host the biggest prize in football. “We’ve showcased that — we’ve hosted more than 85 global events and we’ve delivered on the highest level,” he said. “We want to attract the world through sports.