Ahead of their first Champions League home game since 2003, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe insists the Magpie’s success in the the competition this term will be dependant on their performance at St. James Park.
Howie’s team drew goalless against AC Milan a fortnight ago in what was their first UCL game in 20 years, and now they will host Paris Saint-Germain at home on Wednesday.
“It’s going to be crucial for us; the away games in this competition are very difficult and we experienced that in Milan,” Howie said.
“I know we probably didn’t hit the heights of our best performance but I think our success in the competition will be based on what we do at home where we have the backing of our supporters.”
Newcastle have won four of their five games at home this season! They will head into Wednesday’s game high on confidence, and will look to upset the French champions.
PSG though, will be aiming to extend their unbeaten away run to ten competitive matches. They last lost a game away from home seven months ago in their 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League round of 16.
Newcastle head into this game off the back of a 2-0 win over Burnley over the weekend. PSG meanwhile dropped points for the fourth time this season after being held to a goalless draw by Clermont over the weekend.
Team News
Harvey Barnes (ankle), Joe Willock (Achilles), Callum Wilson and Sven Botman (knee) are all set to miss Wednesday’s tie.
The French giants will be without only Nuno Mendes (hamstring), Marco Asensio (foot) and Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles) after Keylor Navas recovered from a lower back problem.
Match Facts
Newcastle United are unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions and have kept as many consecutive clean sheets.
PSG have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three games.
Only two clubs have won at St. James’ Park this calendar year (Liverpool and Arsenal).
Newcastle United have won just three of their 13 meetings with French opponents (D4 L6). This will be their first time to face PSG.
PSG have lost five of their past seven Champions League games against English sides. They beat Manchester United 3-1 in 2020 and Manchester City 2-0 the following year.
Probable Line-ups
Newcastle: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Lascelles, Burn; Longstaff, Tonali, Guimaraes; Almiron, Isak, Gordon
PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, Hernandez; Vitinha, Ugarte, Zaire-Emery; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Mbappe
