UCL: Newcastle face German giants Borussia Dortmund at St James’ Park
Having won six of their last eight games, most notably on a Champions League night to remember, Newcastle United face German giants Borussia Dortmund at St James’ Park on Wednesday evening.
The first competitive meeting between two proudly-backed clubs comes with the hosts sitting on four points in Group F, following a spectacular defeat of Paris Saint-Germain; Dortmund, meanwhile, are still seeking their first win.
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Coming out on top in a Tyneside tussle that will echo down the decades, Newcastle United romped to their biggest-ever Champions League victory last time out in Europe, as the St James’ Park faithful watched their dreams play out in real time.
Miguel Almiron put the Magpies in front, before local lads Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff extended their advantage to three by the 50th minute; after PSG pulled one back, Fabian Schar’s late stunner capped off a superb success that took them top of Group F.
Back in the big time this year, after Eddie Howe steered them to fourth place in last term’s Premier League, Newcastle have now lost only one of their last 29 UEFA competition fixtures on home turf, winning on no less than 21 occasions – they have also won 60% of their home games in the Champions League, compared to a more modest 20% on the road.
Either side of the most recent international break, Howe’s men then added four more points to their domestic total, and after losing three of their first four games this season, Saturday’s 4-0 defeat of Crystal Palace means they have now won six of their last eight, scoring 20 goals in the process.
Longstaff was on target again at the weekend, while Callum Wilson also found the net upon his return from injury and gives Howe a pleasant problem to resolve up front, where Swedish star Alexander Isak has been preferred in Europe.
Newcastle, who moved up to sixth in the top-flight standings as a result of crushing Palace, are therefore primed for a return to continental competition, in which they have never before lost to German opponents.
By stark contrast with their hosts, Borussia Dortmund have lost their last six games away to English sides in all competitions, conceding at least twice on each occasion; but while Newcastle have just returned to Europe’s elite after a long absence, Dortmund are featuring in the Champions League group stage for the 18th time, and for an eighth successive season.
The 1997 European champions are in danger of seeing their run cut short at the first phase, though, as a tally of one point from a possible six in Group F means defeat on Wednesday would leave their prospects of progressing from the ‘Group of Death’ dangling by a thread.
After losing 2-0 in Paris on the opening matchday, BVB recorded a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to AC Milan last time out, when Donyell Malen’s drive came closest to breaking the deadlock at Westfalenstadion.
Dortmund have now failed to score in each of their last three Champions League matches – as many times as in the previous 28 – and firing another blank on Tyneside would mean going four without a goal for the very first time.
A lack of precision has cost Edin Terzic’s side dear, as they have actually attempted 14 more shots than Newcastle so far; however, the German giants are yet to find the net while the Magpies boast the second-highest shot conversion rate.
Nonetheless, they arrive in England undefeated on the domestic scene, having just won a fifth straight Bundesliga fixture on Friday evening, when Julian Brandt scored the only goal, making it 25 home games without defeat in all competitions. Seeing off Werder Bremen took Dortmund level on points with old foes Bayern Munich, but Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart still lead the way ahead of them.
Although a lengthy ban for betting offences hangs over Sandro Tonali, who started on the bench for Newcastle’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace, the ex-Milan man remains available for selection at the moment.
As of matchday two’s conclusion, he had played more minutes than any other midfielder in the Champions League since the start of last season (1,190). Indeed, the only outfield player to top that total is Manchester City’s Ruben Dias (1,221). However, the Italian may be set for a cameo role on Wednesday.
Club-record signing Alexander Isak joined Tonali among the substitutes at the weekend, but he is expected to shrug off a knee problem to lead the line against Dortmund. Joe Willock is close to returning from a calf injury, but Sven Botman (knee), Harvey Barnes (foot) remain sidelined.
The visitors’ absentees include Mateu Morey, Youssoufa Moukoko and Julian Ryerson, but most of Edin Terzic’s squad are fit and ready to fight for three points at St James’ Park.
No-one created more chances than Germany international Julian Brandt through the Champions League’s first two matchdays (eight), with five coming in the goalless draw against Milan.
Having recently brought his goals tally for Germany up to nine in 11 appearances, Niclas Fullkrug will again aim to get off the mark in Europe’s top club competition, though Sebastien Haller will also be pushing to start up front. The latter’s record in the Champions League stands at 11 goals from just 10 appearances.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Gordon
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Wolf, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Can, Ozcan; Brandt, Reus, Malen; Fullkrug