Newcastle vs PSV: Champions League knockout qualification on the line at St. James’ Park
by Devesh Jaganath | by Cydias Aujard
Magpies eye UCL top eight against rampant Red and Whites
Tuesday’s Matchday 7 fixtures in the Champions League produced a handful of shock results, with the likes of Man City, PSG and Inter Milan all dropping points, which has blown the race for the coveted top eight in the League Phase wide-open.
Newcastle United now stand to benefit from those results, as a victory at St. James’ Park tonight would not only guarantee their qualification to the knockout round but could also take them up to sixth place in the table, thanks to their solid goal difference (+7).
However, as explained in our Newcastle vs PSV Eindhoven prediction, it will not be easy for the Magpies, as arriving on Tyneside tonight is a PSV side that has won 17 of their last 20 matches across all competitions (D2 L1) and scored two or more goals in their last 11 games.
After dispatching Fortuna Sittard last weekend, the Boeren are now 16 points clear of Feyenoord at the top of the Eredivisie standings after 19 games, and they’ve scored a whopping 59 league goals, averaging over three goals per 90 in the Dutch top flight.
The Geordies are averaging over two goals per game in the UCL this season, but the key will be to contain their upcoming opponents. They were solid at the back in their last two home games, shutting out Benfica and Athletic Bilbao on MD3 and MD4, respectively, to confirm our Champions League predictions.
Given their fixtures on the final day of the League Phase - with Newcastle having to travel to France to face reigning champions PSG, while PSV will host high-flying Bayern Munich at Philips Stadion - both these sides are expected to go all-out for the victory here.
Gordon vs Driouech: Key players to watch tonight
Anthony Gordon has come under criticism for his attacking output in the Premier League this season, having only produced two goals and one assist in 17 league appearances, but he has been exceptional for the Magpies in the UCL this term.
The England international has recorded five goals and two assists in six games in this competition, and if he finds the net in this match, he will surpass club legend Alan Shearer’s record of six Champions League goals in a single campaign.
It could also be a big night for Yoanne Wissa, as he is expected to start his first UCL match after coming off the bench for his competition debut against Bayer Leverkusen. He will undoubtedly be eager to make his mark on the special occasion after a disrupted start to life at St. James’ Park.
PSV, on the other hand, were dealt a massive blow last week, with Ricardo Pepi suffering a broken arm in their league match against Excelsior, which is expected to keep the United States international sidelined until at least the end of February.
Pepi’s injury could open the door for Moroccan attacker Couhaib Driouech, who has scored three goals off the bench for the Red and Whites in this competition and has also notched up two assists, making him the team’s leading goal contributor in the UCL.
Beyond Driouech, Bosz has plenty of attacking firepower at his disposal. Guus Til, in particular, is having an incredible season, having scored 11 goals and two assists in 19 league games, while recording four direct goal contributions in this competition (2 goals, 2 assists).
