PSG and Newcastle United face playoffs after Champions League draw

PARIS, Jan 28 : Holders Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United were forced into the Champions League playoff round after a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes in Wednesday's final round of the league phase left both outside of direct qualification for the last 16.

PSG went ahead early through Vitinha’s low finish, only for Newcastle to level just before halftime when Joe Willock headed in, putting both teams on 14 points and outside the top eight.

A year after navigating the playoffs on their way to lifting the trophy, PSG will again go through the extra knockout round and will be drawn to face either Qarabag or fellow Ligue 1 side Monaco in next month’s two-legged tie.

Newcastle, who finished 12th, one place behind PSG, will be paired with the remaining team — Qarabag if PSG draw Monaco, and vice versa.

The hosts had an early opportunity to seize control when Lewis Miley was penalised for handball, only for Ousmane Dembele to see his penalty saved by Nick Pope, as PSG controlled large spells of the opening period.

Luis Enrique turned to his bench after the break in search of a winner yet while PSG enjoyed the bulk of possession, Newcastle stayed compact and carried a threat on the break, with Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes testing Matvey Safonov.

“It’s hard to swallow, we did everything to win the game and finish in the top eight but once again we failed to convert our chances. Now let’s see who we will face," PSG midfielder Vitinha said.

“I’m happy with what the team showed even if the result is not what we wanted. We played a big game against a very tough team."

Dembele's miss on the penalty, which was turned away by Pope, did not stem the flow as PSG kept coming and made the pressure count in the eighth minute when Vitinha