ON THIS DAY 2023: Newcastle United 4 – 1 Paris Saint Germain – Champion’s League football returns to St James Park

ON THIS DAY 2023:

After a huge week of build up, seeing club sponsor SELA organise a drone show celebrating the club’s players, Champion’s League football returned to St James’ Park, in a night that no one watching in the stadium, or on broadcast, will ever forget.

Wor Flags set up a display for the ages to welcome the Parisians and the global Champion’s League audience to St James’ Park. Black and white in every seat of the ground. Flags, wavers, a Gallowgate TiFo, and a “HELLO HELLO (we are the Geordie Boys)” sign in the Leazes.

The noise as club captain Jamaal Lascelles led out the team was deafening, as was the spine tingling reaction to the Champion’s League anthem.

The game kicked off with Mbappé getting booed heavily on his first touch, which then saw him cross to Dembélé, who volleyed just wide of the Gallowgate post.

At the other end, a poor clearance from Marquinhos was intercepted, which saw Isak volley the ball on the swivel. Donnarumma parried the initial shot, only for Almirón to smash in the rebound.

St James exploded in ecstasy as Miggy kneeslid into the corner as the ground went utterly berserk.

This goal was not against the run of play, as this Newcastle team was pressing with such ferocity, PSG had no idea how to cope with it.

PSG Manager Luis Enrique, who scored in the famous 3-2 Barcelona Champion’s League, over a quarter of a century prior, had seemingly not researched this current Newcastle team at all. Choosing to adopt a 4-2-4, leaving a weak midfield to be squeezed into submission.

There had never been a better example of ‘intensity is our identity’, with Newcastle pressing every player on the pitch, forcing throw-in, after corner, after foul, on an utterly bewildered, and overwhelmed PSG team.

Newcastle’s second came from a set piece, as Trippier crossed in, Donnarumma made a stretching save, which saw Guimarães cross the ball to the back stick which Dan Burn lept like a salmon to head home.

The goal had to be checked by VAR as the offside flag was up. Although Donnarumma got a hand to it, the ball was clearly over the line. An agonising wait on an offside call at the time of the cross, saw the goal finally allowed.

St James’ erupted as Big Dan Burn from Blyth raised his arms aloft to soak in the roar of the crowd.

As if things couldn’t get any better, Newcastle on yet another attack, saw Trippier play through Longstaff, whose first time shot went under Donnarumma and into the Gallowgate net.

A deafening roar exploded, as the best thing out of North Shields (sorry Sam Fender) had added another, in what was becoming an astonishing scoreline.

PSG did get one back, as teenager Zaïre-Emery clipped a lovely ball for Hernandez to head in.

As the game entered injury time however, Schär pressed and won the ball in the oppositions third, played a one-two with Murphy on the edge of the box, before firing in an absolute screamer.

Pandemonium.

Newcastle had recorded a win that had shocked every fan, pundit, and viewer alike, as they had pulverised the Parisians into pieces.

For the Geordies in the ground and the Mags watching around the world, this will be a night everyone will remember where they were.

I had Covid bad a week or so before this game and I spent all week begging I’d be well enough to go.

Thankfully I was and it was the best game I’d ever been to.

Goosebumps

Kind of wild this in just 3 years only 3 of that starting XI are still at the club (Pope, Schar, Burn), non of whom are starters anymore.

Schar’s goal might be top three all time toon goals for me. Just deciding ‘right, I’m getting on the score sheet right now’

What a bloody marvellous day this turned out to be

And the four goalscorers were four lads who don’t (touch wood) have ‘tarnished’ legacies in any way at the club which is a nice added bonus.