Archive January 29, 2026

Newcastle United have experienced all manner of emotions at the Parc des Princes.

It was here, just a couple of years ago, that Eddie Howe’s side were denied a famous win against Paris St-Germain after the hosts were awarded a controversial penalty in stoppage time.

That 1-1 draw left a bitter taste, as a result, but there was a very different feeling in the away dressing room on Wednesday night following the same result.

This was a night when Newcastle – not PSG – came from behind after putting in a gutsy showing against the Champions League holders.

There have been a number of occasions where these players and staff have approached the away end sheepishly this season following a poor display on the road.

This was not one of them.

“We love Newcastle, we do,” the travelling support sang at full-time.

The point was not enough to secure automatic qualification for the last 16, but Eddie Howe’s side look well placed to progress past Monaco or Qarabag if they build on this.

“We wanted to win tonight,” the Newcastle head coach said. “We didn’t want the extra games, but we will take it.

“We will go down that route and we are going down that route in the best possible way with a strong performance against the holders of the competition.

Yet it looked like history was about to repeat itself at one point.

The game had not long kicked off when PSG were awarded a controversial penalty following a video assistant referee (VAR) review after the ball bounced off the arm of Bradley Barcola and then struck Lewis Miley’s hand inside the box.

It brought back memories of when Newcastle defender Tino Livramento was penalised for an unintentional handball at the same stadium in 2023.

Kylian Mbappe took full advantage that night but, this time, Pope got a strong hand to Ousmane Dembele’s spot-kick to briefly quieten the Parc des Princes.

Although Vitinha did put the hosts in front, just a few minutes later, Newcastle did not crumble, even after such a shaky start.

They did not let their frustrations get the better of them, either, when they were not awarded a penalty of their own after the ball struck Marquinhos’ hand inside the box a few minutes before Joe Willock equalised.

Willock was one of five players recalled by Howe and this was a night when the Newcastle head coach’s faith in his squad eventually paid off.

With an eye on Saturday’s trip to Anfield, Howe made five changes as Dan Burn, Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey, Willock and Nick Woltemade came into the team, knowing he needed fresh legs.

They certainly stepped up – not least Burn, who wore the captain’s armband.

Burn, making his first appearance since breaking a rib and puncturing a lung, was even named man of the match after a colossal performance.

To think the 33-year-old had been “anxious” before the game.

“That injury did shake me up a little bit,” he said. “It was something I had never had before.

“I was really happy when the first whistle went because I just settled back into my routine and didn’t think about it.

Then there was Willock.

The midfielder was subject to abhorrent racial abuse from an anonymous Instagram account last month, but he embodied his side’s resilience.

Indeed, after heading his side level, in first-half stoppage time, Willock defiantly put his finger to his lips as the home support whistled loudly.

“That was the Joe Willock of old,” Howe said. “Always a scorer of big goals. His goalscoring record when he first joined the club was really strong and he scored goals in my first year in particular so really pleased for him.

“He’s had a tough time with injuries. He’s trained really well for us behind the scenes. He’s been waiting for opportunities and today was the right time.”

It was Willock’s maiden goal in the Champions League.

But this is a competition these players now feel they belong in after so many of the squad only sampled life at Europe’s top table for the first time back in 2023.

Newcastle exited the group stage that year, but they have certainly relished the new format, finishing level on points with PSG in the standings.

Howe’s men have only lost two Champions League games – against Barcelona and Marseille – and swatted aside PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, Athletic Club and Union Saint-Gilloise.

Their European adventure continues.

“This is a really good step in the right direction,” Pope told TNT Sports. “I’m really pleased with that.

“There are things to work on. We came to this competition two years ago and didn’t get to this stage so this is really exciting for us.

The Premier League is flexing its muscles in Europe as five English teams finished in the top eight of the Champions League to reach the knockouts.

That could become six in the last 16 if Newcastle win their two-legged play-off after they finished 12th in the league phase following a 1-1 draw at defending champions PSG on Wednesday.

Arsenal finished in first place with Liverpool third, Tottenham fourth, Chelsea sixth and Manchester City finishing eighth.

History could be made if Newcastle progress through the play-offs as never before have there been six Premier League teams in the Champions League knockouts.

“That is dominant,” said Spurs boss Thomas Frank.

“I think we all said for a few years the Premier League is the best league in the world and I think this is another sign of it.”

The most obvious starting point is the financial power of the Premier League, which significantly outweighs other leagues.

Six Premier League sides sit inside the top 10 of the Deloitte Football Money League, while 50% of the top 30 come from the English top flight.

TV rights have generated enormous broadcast revenues for Premier League sides, with the income from that source dwarfing those of other countries.

Last summer, Premier League clubs outlaid more than ever before in the transfer window as spending surpassed £3bn.

More money means clubs can invest in bigger squads, with Arsenal seeing the benefits of spending big to increase their strength in depth as they finished first in the league phase of the Champions League and sit top of the Premier League.

“The biggest single reason that the English clubs have been dominant so far is the financial power of the Premier League,” former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Sport.

“Also, it is about how competitive they have got by fighting it out and being in and around each other – they have pushed each other on.”

Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon also says a more open style of play in Europe has benefited English teams, while the Premier League is “more physical than I’ve ever known it to be”.

“I think in the Champions League, teams are more open. They all try to play. It’s less transitional,” he added.

“It [the Premier League] is like a basketball game sometimes, it’s so relentless physically. There’s not much control, it’s a running game and sometimes it’s about duels, whoever wins the duels wins the game. Or moments.

“The Champions League is a bit more of an older style of game, more football based. Teams come and try and play proper football.

It is undoubtedly an impressive achievement for five – and potentially six – Premier League teams to reach the knockouts.

But was the fixture computer kinder for them than other teams?

At the start of the season, football data statisticians Opta analysed every team’s Champions League fixtures and ranked them all to work out who had the kindest draw.

Arsenal’s fixtures were ranked the third easiest, with Tottenham fourth, Liverpool seventh and Chelsea eighth.

The last – and only – time five Premier League teams made it through to the knockouts was in 2017, when Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham all progressed.

However just two of those sides – Liverpool and Manchester City – got beyond the last 16, while the Reds went all the way to the final after knocking City out in the quarter-finals.

With five Premier League sides finishing in the top eight of this season’s league phase, and therefore avoiding the prospect of facing one another in the last-16, there is the chance of a record number of English teams making the quarter-finals.

Having numerous English clubs in latter stages of the Champions League is nothing new with four sides progressing to the quarters in both 2007-08 and 2008-09, as well as 2018-19 – leading to an all-English final in 07-08 and 2018-19.

No other country have ever had four teams in the quarter-finals – this year England could have as many as six.

But the demands of playing in the Premier League alongside the Champions League takes its toll, which is why many managers were relieved to avoid the two extra play-off games.

“I still think it will be very difficult for one of them to go on and win it, just because of how difficult the Premier League is every week – whether you are fighting for the title or for a place in the top four,” Warnock added.

The three other countries who had teams join English sides in progressing to the knockouts were Germany (Bayern Munich), Spain (Barcelona) and Portugal (Sporting CP).

That has left some surprises having to go through via the play-offs, with Paris St-Germain failing to get the win they needed against Newcastle to secure a top-eight spot.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, were on the wrong end of a thrilling and dramatic match with Benfica.

Real were reduced to nine men while a last-second goal by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin secured a memorable 4-2 win for Jose Mourinho’s side that earned them a play-off spot.

Other big sides who are facing the lottery of the play-offs include Italian sides Juventus and Inter Milan, along with Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and Spain’s Atletico Madrid – who were stunned by Bodo/Glimt on Wednesday.

The Norwegians have been the surprise package of the Champions League and their win against Atletico came just eight days after they beat Manchester City.

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

The Premier League is flexing its muscles in Europe as five English teams finished in the top eight of the Champions League to reach the knockouts.

That could become six in the last 16 if Newcastle win their two-legged play-off after they finished 12th in the league phase following a 1-1 draw at defending champions PSG on Wednesday.

Arsenal finished in first place with Liverpool third, Tottenham fourth, Chelsea sixth and Manchester City finishing eighth.

History could be made if Newcastle progress through the play-offs as never before have there been six Premier League teams in the Champions League knockouts.

“That is dominant,” said Spurs boss Thomas Frank.

“I think we all said for a few years the Premier League is the best league in the world and I think this is another sign of it.”

The most obvious starting point is the financial power of the Premier League, which significantly outweighs other leagues.

Six Premier League sides sit inside the top 10 of the Deloitte Football Money League, while 50% of the top 30 come from the English top flight.

TV rights have generated enormous broadcast revenues for Premier League sides, with the income from that source dwarfing those of other countries.

Last summer, Premier League clubs outlaid more than ever before in the transfer window as spending surpassed £3bn.

More money means clubs can invest in bigger squads, with Arsenal seeing the benefits of spending big to increase their strength in depth as they finished first in the league phase of the Champions League and sit top of the Premier League.

“The biggest single reason that the English clubs have been dominant so far is the financial power of the Premier League,” former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Sport.

“Also, it is about how competitive they have got by fighting it out and being in and around each other – they have pushed each other on.”

Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon also says a more open style of play in Europe has benefited English teams, while the Premier League is “more physical than I’ve ever known it to be”.

“I think in the Champions League, teams are more open. They all try to play. It’s less transitional,” he added.

“It [the Premier League] is like a basketball game sometimes, it’s so relentless physically. There’s not much control, it’s a running game and sometimes it’s about duels, whoever wins the duels wins the game. Or moments.

“The Champions League is a bit more of an older style of game, more football based. Teams come and try and play proper football.

It is undoubtedly an impressive achievement for five – and potentially six – Premier League teams to reach the knockouts.

But was the fixture computer kinder for them than other teams?

At the start of the season, football data statisticians Opta analysed every team’s Champions League fixtures and ranked them all to work out who had the kindest draw.

Arsenal’s fixtures were ranked the third easiest, with Tottenham fourth, Liverpool seventh and Chelsea eighth.

The last – and only – time five Premier League teams made it through to the knockouts was in 2017, when Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham all progressed.

However just two of those sides – Liverpool and Manchester City – got beyond the last 16, while the Reds went all the way to the final after knocking City out in the quarter-finals.

With five Premier League sides finishing in the top eight of this season’s league phase, and therefore avoiding the prospect of facing one another in the last-16, there is the chance of a record number of English teams making the quarter-finals.

Having numerous English clubs in latter stages of the Champions League is nothing new with four sides progressing to the quarters in both 2007-08 and 2008-09, as well as 2018-19 – leading to an all-English final in 07-08 and 2018-19.

No other country have ever had four teams in the quarter-finals – this year England could have as many as six.

But the demands of playing in the Premier League alongside the Champions League takes its toll, which is why many managers were relieved to avoid the two extra play-off games.

“I still think it will be very difficult for one of them to go on and win it, just because of how difficult the Premier League is every week – whether you are fighting for the title or for a place in the top four,” Warnock added.

The three other countries who had teams join English sides in progressing to the knockouts were Germany (Bayern Munich), Spain (Barcelona) and Portugal (Sporting CP).

That has left some surprises having to go through via the play-offs, with Paris St-Germain failing to get the win they needed against Newcastle to secure a top-eight spot.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, were on the wrong end of a thrilling and dramatic match with Benfica.

Real were reduced to nine men while a last-second goal by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin secured a memorable 4-2 win for Jose Mourinho’s side that earned them a play-off spot.

Other big sides who are facing the lottery of the play-offs include Italian sides Juventus and Inter Milan, along with Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and Spain’s Atletico Madrid – who were stunned by Bodo/Glimt on Wednesday.

The Norwegians have been the surprise package of the Champions League and their win against Atletico came just eight days after they beat Manchester City.

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

The Premier League is flexing its muscles in Europe as five English teams finished in the top eight of the Champions League to reach the knockouts.

That could become six in the last 16 if Newcastle win their two-legged play-off after they finished 12th in the league phase following a 1-1 draw at defending champions PSG on Wednesday.

Arsenal finished in first place with Liverpool third, Tottenham fourth, Chelsea sixth and Manchester City finishing eighth.

History could be made if Newcastle progress through the play-offs as never before have there been six Premier League teams in the Champions League knockouts.

“That is dominant,” said Spurs boss Thomas Frank.

“I think we all said for a few years the Premier League is the best league in the world and I think this is another sign of it.”

The most obvious starting point is the financial power of the Premier League, which significantly outweighs other leagues.

Six Premier League sides sit inside the top 10 of the Deloitte Football Money League, while 50% of the top 30 come from the English top flight.

TV rights have generated enormous broadcast revenues for Premier League sides, with the income from that source dwarfing those of other countries.

Last summer, Premier League clubs outlaid more than ever before in the transfer window as spending surpassed £3bn.

More money means clubs can invest in bigger squads, with Arsenal seeing the benefits of spending big to increase their strength in depth as they finished first in the league phase of the Champions League and sit top of the Premier League.

“The biggest single reason that the English clubs have been dominant so far is the financial power of the Premier League,” former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Sport.

“Also, it is about how competitive they have got by fighting it out and being in and around each other – they have pushed each other on.”

Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon also says a more open style of play in Europe has benefited English teams, while the Premier League is “more physical than I’ve ever known it to be”.

“I think in the Champions League, teams are more open. They all try to play. It’s less transitional,” he added.

“It [the Premier League] is like a basketball game sometimes, it’s so relentless physically. There’s not much control, it’s a running game and sometimes it’s about duels, whoever wins the duels wins the game. Or moments.

“The Champions League is a bit more of an older style of game, more football based. Teams come and try and play proper football.

It is undoubtedly an impressive achievement for five – and potentially six – Premier League teams to reach the knockouts.

But was the fixture computer kinder for them than other teams?

At the start of the season, football data statisticians Opta analysed every team’s Champions League fixtures and ranked them all to work out who had the kindest draw.

Arsenal’s fixtures were ranked the third easiest, with Tottenham fourth, Liverpool seventh and Chelsea eighth.

The last – and only – time five Premier League teams made it through to the knockouts was in 2017, when Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham all progressed.

However just two of those sides – Liverpool and Manchester City – got beyond the last 16, while the Reds went all the way to the final after knocking City out in the quarter-finals.

With five Premier League sides finishing in the top eight of this season’s league phase, and therefore avoiding the prospect of facing one another in the last-16, there is the chance of a record number of English teams making the quarter-finals.

Having numerous English clubs in latter stages of the Champions League is nothing new with four sides progressing to the quarters in both 2007-08 and 2008-09, as well as 2018-19 – leading to an all-English final in 07-08 and 2018-19.

No other country have ever had four teams in the quarter-finals – this year England could have as many as six.

But the demands of playing in the Premier League alongside the Champions League takes its toll, which is why many managers were relieved to avoid the two extra play-off games.

“I still think it will be very difficult for one of them to go on and win it, just because of how difficult the Premier League is every week – whether you are fighting for the title or for a place in the top four,” Warnock added.

The three other countries who had teams join English sides in progressing to the knockouts were Germany (Bayern Munich), Spain (Barcelona) and Portugal (Sporting CP).

That has left some surprises having to go through via the play-offs, with Paris St-Germain failing to get the win they needed against Newcastle to secure a top-eight spot.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, were on the wrong end of a thrilling and dramatic match with Benfica.

Real were reduced to nine men while a last-second goal by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin secured a memorable 4-2 win for Jose Mourinho’s side that earned them a play-off spot.

Other big sides who are facing the lottery of the play-offs include Italian sides Juventus and Inter Milan, along with Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and Spain’s Atletico Madrid – who were stunned by Bodo/Glimt on Wednesday.

The Norwegians have been the surprise package of the Champions League and their win against Atletico came just eight days after they beat Manchester City.

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

The Premier League is flexing its muscles in Europe as five English teams finished in the top eight of the Champions League to reach the knockouts.

That could become six in the last 16 if Newcastle win their two-legged play-off after they finished 12th in the league phase following a 1-1 draw at defending champions PSG on Wednesday.

Arsenal finished in first place with Liverpool third, Tottenham fourth, Chelsea sixth and Manchester City finishing eighth.

History could be made if Newcastle progress through the play-offs as never before have there been six Premier League teams in the Champions League knockouts.

“That is dominant,” said Spurs boss Thomas Frank.

“I think we all said for a few years the Premier League is the best league in the world and I think this is another sign of it.”

The most obvious starting point is the financial power of the Premier League, which significantly outweighs other leagues.

Six Premier League sides sit inside the top 10 of the Deloitte Football Money League, while 50% of the top 30 come from the English top flight.

TV rights have generated enormous broadcast revenues for Premier League sides, with the income from that source dwarfing those of other countries.

Last summer, Premier League clubs outlaid more than ever before in the transfer window as spending surpassed £3bn.

More money means clubs can invest in bigger squads, with Arsenal seeing the benefits of spending big to increase their strength in depth as they finished first in the league phase of the Champions League and sit top of the Premier League.

“The biggest single reason that the English clubs have been dominant so far is the financial power of the Premier League,” former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Sport.

“Also, it is about how competitive they have got by fighting it out and being in and around each other – they have pushed each other on.”

Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon also says a more open style of play in Europe has benefited English teams, while the Premier League is “more physical than I’ve ever known it to be”.

“I think in the Champions League, teams are more open. They all try to play. It’s less transitional,” he added.

“It [the Premier League] is like a basketball game sometimes, it’s so relentless physically. There’s not much control, it’s a running game and sometimes it’s about duels, whoever wins the duels wins the game. Or moments.

“The Champions League is a bit more of an older style of game, more football based. Teams come and try and play proper football.

It is undoubtedly an impressive achievement for five – and potentially six – Premier League teams to reach the knockouts.

But was the fixture computer kinder for them than other teams?

At the start of the season, football data statisticians Opta analysed every team’s Champions League fixtures and ranked them all to work out who had the kindest draw.

Arsenal’s fixtures were ranked the third easiest, with Tottenham fourth, Liverpool seventh and Chelsea eighth.

The last – and only – time five Premier League teams made it through to the knockouts was in 2017, when Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham all progressed.

However just two of those sides – Liverpool and Manchester City – got beyond the last 16, while the Reds went all the way to the final after knocking City out in the quarter-finals.

With five Premier League sides finishing in the top eight of this season’s league phase, and therefore avoiding the prospect of facing one another in the last-16, there is the chance of a record number of English teams making the quarter-finals.

Having numerous English clubs in latter stages of the Champions League is nothing new with four sides progressing to the quarters in both 2007-08 and 2008-09, as well as 2018-19 – leading to an all-English final in 07-08 and 2018-19.

No other country have ever had four teams in the quarter-finals – this year England could have as many as six.

But the demands of playing in the Premier League alongside the Champions League takes its toll, which is why many managers were relieved to avoid the two extra play-off games.

“I still think it will be very difficult for one of them to go on and win it, just because of how difficult the Premier League is every week – whether you are fighting for the title or for a place in the top four,” Warnock added.

The three other countries who had teams join English sides in progressing to the knockouts were Germany (Bayern Munich), Spain (Barcelona) and Portugal (Sporting CP).

That has left some surprises having to go through via the play-offs, with Paris St-Germain failing to get the win they needed against Newcastle to secure a top-eight spot.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, were on the wrong end of a thrilling and dramatic match with Benfica.

Real were reduced to nine men while a last-second goal by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin secured a memorable 4-2 win for Jose Mourinho’s side that earned them a play-off spot.

Other big sides who are facing the lottery of the play-offs include Italian sides Juventus and Inter Milan, along with Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and Spain’s Atletico Madrid – who were stunned by Bodo/Glimt on Wednesday.

The Norwegians have been the surprise package of the Champions League and their win against Atletico came just eight days after they beat Manchester City.

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.