Newcastles Statement – gut oder schlecht für den BVB?

The Premier League may have had a problem with “event fans” for years, but many can no longer afford the sometimes horrendous ticket prices. But on Wednesday evening, in Newcastle, of all places, at one of the most controversial football projects in England, it became clear that the atmosphere in an English stadium can still be incredibly electrifying in 2023

The Premier League may have had a problem with “event fans” for years, but many can no longer afford the sometimes horrendous ticket prices. But on Wednesday evening, in Newcastle, of all places, at one of the most controversial football projects in England, it became clear that the atmosphere in an English stadium can still be incredibly electrifying in 2023.

“The atmosphere was very special. I can’t thank the fans enough,” said Eddie Howe after the final whistle, which sealed a real statement victory: Newcastle United defeated Paris St. Germain 4-1 and celebrated their first Champions League success since the 3-1 win over Bayer 04 Leverkusen on 26 February 2003, in which club legend Alan Shearer scored a hat-trick.

Since a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) took over Magpies two years ago, they have been considered the richest club in the world. But it was precisely the triumph on Wednesday that proved that the upswing of the traditional club cannot be explained by money alone.

The best transfer was apparently that of coach Howe – on a free transfer

With Miguel Almiron, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schär, four players scored who were already there before (and some of whom were almost gone in the meantime), but who seem to be getting better and better. It is becoming clearer and clearer that the best transfer since the controversial Saudi takeover was that of coach Howe, who would have been on the market for any other club at the time. “At the moment it looks like he is predestined for the election as coach of the year,” says the “Guardian”.

“It was a tactically difficult game because PSG are trying to play from the back, so we had to throw them off balance and unsettle them,” Howe explained his successful match plan. “We were face-to-face at the back against top players, and they had some moments where they hurt us in what I think was an even game, but our goals came at the right moment.”

After two matchdays, Newcastle lead the top-class Group F with four points, and now they face BVB twice in a row – first at home (27 October), then away (7 November). Was he happy about Newcastle’s coup? On the one hand, the group, together with those around Lens, Arsenal, Sevilla and Eindhoven, is currently the closest with only three points between the first and the last, which leaves all possibilities. On the other hand, PSG, the presumed favorite, may now be doomed to score points until the end – and will be visiting Dortmund at the end, who would certainly not mind if there were clarity for their opponent in advance.