Dan Byrne’s stunning header secured Newcastle a 2-0 home victory over Athletic Club, propelling them into the top eight of the Champions League.
Byrne’s superb curling header in the 11th minute and Joelinton’s close range strike just after half-time gave Newcastle their third successive win in the competition.
However, there was some bitterness to the victory as Anthony Gordon was forced to leave the game with an injury in the first half.
Anthony Gordon left injured in the first half
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe revealed in his post-match press conference that the player had suffered a recurrence of his hip problem, but could not provide an update on the severity of the injury.
The England international was also forced off injured in Sunday’s disastrous Premier League defeat to West Ham, but Howe’s side responded perfectly at St James’ Park on Wednesday.
Byrne said Newcastle will have to rediscover the “ugly” side of the game after the defeat to the Hammers. But there was nothing ugly about Kieran Trippier’s brilliant header from a free-kick to open the scoring.
Athletic Club, without the influential brothers Inaki and Nico Williams, posed a threat as the Spanish side hit the post twice in the space of 41 seconds in the first half.
Just before half-time Nick Woltemade and Joelinton squandered golden chances to double the Magpies’ lead.
But the latter made up for his mistake by scoring just four minutes after the restart, nodding in Harvey Barnes’ cross.
Joelinton doubles his lead.
Nick Pope then made two great saves to deny substitute Nico Serrano, as Newcastle eased off the gas and secured their third successive clean sheet in the Champions League.
The Thun’s victory moves them into sixth place in the Champions League table and their attention will now turn to Sunday’s trip to Brentford (live on Sky Sports) where they will aim for their first away league win of the season.
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Burn with a header: 1 in 100 goal!
Newcastle defender Dan Byrne told TNT Sport:
“I had a chance for a while and the ball came in and I decided to head it as hard as I could and luckily the ball went into the corner of the goal so I was happy.
“Sometimes it’s probably one in 100 goals. It’s a lot like a cup-winning goal, but I’ll take it. I’ve been expecting a goal for a while, so at least it was a good header.”
Vern celebrates beautiful header
On the win: “We said we wanted to live up to our performance at the weekend. We always knew we would do well today. I thought we played well and were in control for the most part. Athletic Club pressed us very well and we were happy to get the three points, so now we have nine points and we’ve played four games so it’s good.”
On playing at full-back: “It’s quite a shift! But I’m enjoying it. I’ve said that I love playing at centre-back and that’s my best position, but being at full-back means I’m a little more up and down. It’s definitely tough on my legs, but I’m happy.”
Howe ‘really happy’ with reaction to West Ham defeat
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Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe says he is proud to still be in charge as he celebrates four years in charge
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe told TNT Sport:
“I’m really happy today because it was an important response against West Ham. I think it was a really disappointing day. We moved very quickly into this game and prioritized some things in our performance.
“I think the players tried to give it to us. I don’t think we were at our best, but we did enough to win and we’re in a good position in this tournament right now.”
“It was really good to play against West Ham this week. I think that was a real positive and it was an opportunity to put that performance behind us and correct what we did wrong.”
“I thought there were some really positive things tonight. Defensively, I thought we looked really good and we scored a couple of good goals.”
On Byrne’s header: “It was very reminiscent of a cup final, wasn’t it? An unbelievable header from distance and he arrowed it into the top corner of the goal.
“Yes, it was a practice field move. Well done to all the coaches involved in that.”
Opta Facts: Thun equal CL’s longest winning streak
Newcastle equaled the record for longest winning streak in the Champions League and achieved their second three-game winning streak. Newcastle have kept clean sheets in each of their last three UEFA Champions League games, the same number as in the first 25 games of the competition combined (3). Both of Dan Byrne’s UEFA Champions League goals have been headed (against PSG and Athletic Club) – he is the third Newcastle player to score multiple headers in the competition, along with Alan Shearer and Faustino Asprilla (two goals each). Kieran Trippier’s assist was his 25th by a Newcastle player in all competitions. Since making his club debut in January 2022, he is one of only three defenders to have provided more than 25 assists for a Premier League club, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool’s 33) and Andy Robertson (Liverpool’s 25).
