Newcastle United host PSG at St James’ Park in a blockbuster Group F clash in 2023-24 UEFA Champions League.
Victory would see Newcastle leapfrog PSG and go top of Group F unless AC Milan better their result in their clash against Borussia Dortmund elsewhere.
Team News
Callum Wilson could return for Newcastle after he missed their last two matches with a hamstring injury.
Joelinton is ruled out with a hamstring injury suffered during the Magpies’ Premier League win over Burnley, in which he only lasted four minutes as a substitute.
Sven Botman (knee), Harvey Barnes (foot) and Joe Willock (hamstring/Achilles) remain absent.
PSG will have goalkeeper, Keylor Navas in contention for selection after he missed their goalless Ligue 1 draw at Clermont with a back injury.
Srgio Rico (head), Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles), Marco Asensio (foot) and Nuno Mendes (hamstring) remain absent.
Cher Ndour, Layvin Kurzawa and Hugo Ekitike are ineligible for PSG’s Champions League fixtures.
When is Kick-Off?
Newcastle host PSG at St James’ Park at 8pm BST on Wednesday 4 October, live on TNT Sport 2 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Newcastle’s first-ever Champions League meeting against PSG.
- PSG are visiting Newcastle for the first time in all UEFA competitions.
- Newcastle are unbeaten in four of six previous home matches against French opposition in all UEFA competitions (W2, D2, L2).
- Alexander Isak has scored in each of his last two appearances for Newcastle, which both came at home.
- PSG have won just one of their last five away matches against English opposition in Champions League (W1, D1, L3).
Prediction
This clash is surely one of the most daunting that any team – who are back in the Champions League after two decades – can face, yet Newcastle can come into this game full of confidence after keeping four consecutive clean sheets and grinding out a goalless draw at AC Milan.
Newcastle’s supporters will also bring a thunderous home atmosphere to their first Champions League home game since August 2003, which hopefully will add extra motivation for the players who were clinical in their win over Burnley and even beat Manchester City last week.
PSG however are a fierce team who can’t be undrestimated with Kylian Mbappe seriously posing their biggest threat with eight goals this season, yet they do feel like a team who would struggle to score goals if Mbappe isn’t around which is a slight concern from their perspective.
Home form though does feel very likely to be Newcastle’s best chance of picking up vital wins if want to reach the knockout stages, and I do fancy them to spring a shock given PSG’s poor away form against English teams and they won’t like the rowdy home atmosphere here.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-0 PSG
Result:Newcastle 4-1 PSG
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