Newcastle United ‘wall of noise’ backed to drive Magpies one step closer to Champions League last 16

NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe has challenged the Newcastle United supporters to replicate their Champions League wall of noise yet again as the Magpies look to make two wins from two in the competition.

A white-hot atmosphere greeted Paris Saint-Germain at St James’ Park earlier this month and the French champions were blown away 4-1 to put Howe’s men top of Group F after two games.

And as the third game nears, Group of Death-toppers Newcastle could put one foot in European football into 2023 with three points against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday evening, knowing the top two qualify for the last 16, as well as third dropping into the Europa League.

“It’s a tough game ahead,” said Howe. “The beauty of the PSG game was the whole environment created by the supporters, but we need to forget that result. Take the confidence from it, but try to create that atmosphere all over again and for us try to re-create those intensity levels and quality of our play to try to win the game.

“It’s another real top test. This group was always going to be that way and it’s great to be involved in. We knew this would be a tough examination for us, this is a key period in it now. We’ve made a good start but we can’t get ahead of ourselves. This is a pivotal game in the group.”

A lot of the talk in the run up to the game has been surrounding the availability of Italian international Sandro Tonali.

While the former AC Milan man has been in and out of the club’s Premier League starting XIs, he’s started both Champions League encounters so far. And while the club await a decision on any potential ban for alleged illegal betting activity involving Tonali, Howe says the player is in his thoughts against the Bundesliga outfit.

The head coach said: