Newcastle top Brighton, on precipice of Champions League

Newcastle United beat Brighton 4-1 on Thursday at St. James’ Park to move to the precipice of qualification for the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League.

A Denis Undav own goal and Dan Burn header, both off set pieces, put the hosts in front only for Undav to bring the Seagulls back into it.

WATCH NEWCASTLE vs BRIGHTON FULL MATCH REPLAY STREAM

But Callum Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes scored late in the game to make the scoreboard look more uneven than the game.

The third-place Magpies move to 69 points, three more than fourth-place Manchester United, who has a match-in-hand, and four clear of fifth-place Liverpool.

Brighton stays sixth with 58 points and has three matches to firm up its place in the Europa League.

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Bruno Guimares

Miguel Almiron

Jason Steele

Kieran Trippier

Callum Wilson

Newcastle United is going back to Europe. We’ve known that for some time.

But the Champions League? Already?!

Wow.

Eddie Howe’s men bounced back from a surprising draw at Leeds to take a two-goal lead, and the home stadium was electric until Denis Undav brought Brighton back within a goal.

And just when it looked like Brighton had seized control and was readying an equalizer, the Magpies showed that magical burst we’ve seen so many times as they conjured two more goals to turn the affair back into a party.

Who knows if Newcastle will have the depth to compete in the group stage next season, but the fact that the Magpies are (in all likelihood) back in the Champions League this soon after their big-money takeover is almost unfathomable.

Brighton hosts Southampton on Sunday.

Newcastle’s off until Monday, May 22, when it’ll host Leicester City.

Newcastle has been getting plenty of