Three weeks on from that stunning 4-1 win over PSG, Champions League football returns to St James’ Park as we take on German giants Borussia Dortmund.
Our return from the international break was an emphatic one on Saturday, as we battered a Crystal Palace side we couldn’t score against in three attempts last season. It was a brilliant display, building on the momentum we’d created before the break and sending us into the Dortmund game on a high.
This feels like a six-pointer in our ‘group of death’ and a huge chance to take a gigantic step towards qualifying for the last 16. Win and we’ll move to seven points – SIX clear of the Bundesliga side – but lose and we’ll be level on four each.
We always said our home games would be key and this is no different, especially when we have away trips to Dortmund and PSG to come in our next two after Wednesday night. Historically, clubs who finish the group phase on 10 points or more nearly always qualify for the knockout stages, so a win here would put us in a brilliant position.
Some have suggested this Dortmund sides are levels below what we’ve seen in previous years, where Haaland, Sancho and Bellingham previously ran riot, but their form suggests otherwise. Their only loss in the last 19 games was a 2-0 defeat to PSG last month, they’ve won their last five league games and are unbeaten in the Bundesliga this season.
Do we need to fear them? Absolutely not. But it’ll take another huge effort from everyone inside St James’ Park to see off a side who’ve only lost once since the start of April.
Team news
Eddie Howe says Sandro Tonali is “fit and fine” to play, providing his ban is not announced before 8pm on Wednesday. Joe Willock is “getting closer” after returning to training and Alexander Isak is “back to full fitness”, but Sven Botman remains out.
For the visitors, USA international Giovani Reyna (born in Sunderland!) could return in midfielder after a cameo appearance on Friday, but full-back Julian Ryerson has been rule out.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
For me, there’s only two questions going into this game when it comes to the side Eddie Howe selects. Joelinton or Tonali in that third midfield spot and will Murphy keep his place – ahead of Almiron – after his man of the match display on Saturday?
It’s difficult to know if Joelinton will be OK to start two games in five days after recently returning from a hamstring injury and impossible to predict whether Tonali’s imminent ban will be confirmed before kick-off. Either way, I think we’ll go with Joelinton’s physicality; something we missed in our opening group game away to AC Milan.
In attack, I can see Almiron getting the nod after he was given a rare rest on Saturday. There’ll be a temptation to go with Murphy after his goal and two assists against Palace, but Almiron was electric in our 4-1 win over PSG and has been back amongst the goals in recent weeks.
Up top, Isak is fully fit and will be raring to go. Wilson played the majority of Saturday’s game, so it makes sense for the Swede to lead the line in this one.
Predicted Borussia Dortmund XI: Kobel – Wolf, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini – Can, Nmecha – Malen, Reus, Brandt – Fullkrug.
Ones to watch: Julian Brandt – The German international has already notched four goals and five assists this season, scoring the winner in their 1-0 victory over Werder Bremen on Friday night. Along with the experienced Marco Reus, he’s one of their big dangermen.
Prediction
Dortmund must not be underestimated and arrive in goo form, but you know Eddie Howe and the players won’t be taking them lightly.
Isak to score against his former club and Gordon to run riot once again in what promises to be another eletric atmosphere at St James’ Park, where we await what Wor Flags have in store for us this time around.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
HWTL!!
I’m not sure it will be as convincing as 3-1 mins.
BD are only 2 points off the top of their league & are unbeaten so far this season.
They may not have the elite players of recent seasons but we know German sides are well organised & disciplined sides.
We won’t get to do to them what we did to PSG.
I fancy us to win still, but I think they will be far harder to break down – I also see a bit of gamesmanship. They know Joelinton, Bruno and at times Miggy & Gordon play with lots of emotion. I think they may rough them up, niggle on at them and try and get them booked or even sent off.
I don’t think it will be anything like the high octane game we saw against PSG.
We will have to break them down, we will have to watch their counter attack and we will have to not raise to the bait if that is a tactic they deploy.
1 or 2 nil for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Really looking forward to this one. I’ll take any kind of win. Just play our attacking game and don’t let them hassle us as Sharpy says!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Oh my , another euro night to savour. Both teams should be confident and will think this is a game to win and I’m mostly just loving that I can watch nufc host and play in type of occasion.
Nowt to fear? .. right because nufc are good and looking useful at this level
Plenty to be wary of? .. definitely because this is a savvy euro hardened opposition team full of confidence.
HTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
One thing that has gripped me is the BS touted by the gen-Z whiners about how tough it’s been being a nufc supporter under Ashley.
Try growing up with Mckeag and f’kin Westwood as owners and living it for 50+ years.
That said, I listened to the bbc Newcastle sounds programme this morning recalling the other CL adventures through commentary and players/ coaches recollections. Spine tingling stuff as I tried to get worked my toast and marmalade while remembering stomach churning evenings in a dark room listening to the radio commentary. Feyenoord .. f’k me what a night
So I’ll get over myself and just say forget how tough it’s been, enjoy this moment and thinkabout how good it could be going forward
HTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
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vlone(Quote)
Hi guys,
Jared here from fixed.net – we’ve been called in by nufcblog to help fix a reported issue you guys have been having with receiving other people’s credentials when commenting. Can I ask if this is still something you are experiencing? I tried to replicate this issue on my own browser but was unable to as the commenting functionality seemed to be working fine.
Jared(Quote)
The last day or so it seems to be ok mate but thanks for trying to sort it out. The other main issue of comments going missing, we will see tonight during the match how that goes!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
So my last comment didn’t appear, I’ll now need to go to the home page, then back to this on to refresh and see it
Gilly Toon(Quote)
So just come on to find I have Prems details but the discussion thread is at least showing.
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
And now I have someone else’s details again … (Premandup)
Gilly Toon(Quote)
This is bad for Alex
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh dear Alex has injury ☹
kimtoon(Quote)
C rap! Bad to concede there. I think we should’ve had a penalty when Miggy went down, and Gordon was fouled in the build up to their goal. Poor officiating I think. Real blow with Isak going off so early.
We are really up against it now. Dortmund really going for it.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
jesus I can’t believe that didn’t go in
kimtoon(Quote)
Just one of them nights , how we didn’t get a couple tonight I’ll never know, hit the bar twice and some good chances. Dortmund impressive defensively .
kimtoon(Quote)
O m g we hit the post 3 times … how did we lose that. Poor ref tonight. Some bad injuries too, although I hope not too bad. ???
Gilly Toon(Quote)