Newcastle forced to go the ‘hard way’ after Dortmund defeat
NEWCASTLE, United Kingdom: Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said his side had made reaching the Champions League last 16 hard for themselves after a 1-0 home defeat by Borussia Dortmund blew Group F wide open. Felix Nmecha scored the only goal as the woodwork twice denied Newcastle an equalizer in the closing stages. The German giants’ first win in what is widely regarded the toughest group in the draw lifts Dortmund above Newcastle on head-to-head record with both sides on four points. Paris Saint-Germain lead the section on six points with last season’s semifinalists AC Milan bottom on two. Newcastle had announced their return to the Champions League stage for the first time in 20 years in style with a 4-1 demolition of PSG three weeks ago. But the Magpies were handed a deserved reality check after a surprisingly flat performance. “Tactically they were good and gave us problems in central areas.
