Newcastle United 4-1 Paris St-Germain: Eddie Howe’s roar to victory over French champions

Newcastle United welcomed Champions League football back to St. James’ Park in style as Paris St-Germain were overpowered in a highly-charged atmosphere on Tyneside.

The Toon Army had already transformed St. James’ Park into four walls of black and white even before Miguel Almiron sent them wild by giving them a 17th-minute lead after PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma could only palm out Alexander Isak’s shot, as Marquinhos was punished for carelessly conceding possession.

It was to prove an eventful night for Italy keeper Donnarumma, who tried in vain to claw out Dan Burn’s towering header six minutes before half-time. The ball had already crossed the line but Newcastle still had to wait for a video assistant referee check for offside before the celebrations could begin.

Donnarumma was a central figure again as Newcastle went three up five minutes after the break, the goalkeeper’s poor attempt at a block allowing Sean Longstaff’s powerful shot from an angle to creep in.

PSG’s threats were rare but they did pull one back after 56 minutes through Lucas Hernandez’s header – but this was Newcastle’s night from start to finish.

Swiss centre-back Fabian Schar added the icing on the cake in stoppage time as he curled a stunning shot past Donnarumma from the edge of the box into the top corner to make it 4-1.

The three points, added to an opening draw away to AC Milan, mean Newcastle go top of Group F.

The night Tyneside was waiting for

Newcastle was alive with Champions League anticipation hours before kick-off as supporters flooded around St. James Park for the first game here in this competition for two decades.

When the draw was made, the meeting with Mbappe and PSG was ringed on the calendar as proof that Newcastle had returned to the big time.

And how the Toon Army relished this as their side delivered the performance and occasion they had craved to put themselves in a good position with four points from their opening two group games.

Tough tests lie ahead but on the evidence of the wall of noise and colour – well black and white – that unnerved PSG here, Newcastle will have no fears about any opposition who come to Tyneside.

Newcastle tore into PSG from the first whistle, backed by a frenzied support, and once Almiron set them on their way after 17 minutes there was no looking back.

And how fitting it was that two local boys, Burn and Longstaff, were also on target on a night that will live long in the memory for every supporter who witnessed it.

And Schar’s scorching finish was a perfect way to round off this glory night.

Borussia Dortmund are the next visitors to Tyneside on 25 October – after this Newcastle and their supporters can hardly wait.