Post by : Meena
Hassan
Newcastle recorded a 2-0 Champions League victory over Athletic Bilbao at St James' Park on Wednesday, their third consecutive win in the tournament. Dan Burn opened the scoring with a strong header before half-time and Joelinton sealed the result early in the second half, giving the Magpies their fifth straight home success across competitions.
The result provided a response to a disappointing 3-1 defeat at West Ham on Sunday, a loss that left Newcastle 13th in the Premier League and prompted internal reflection. Nevertheless, Eddie Howe's side have won three of four European matches, with their sole blemish a defeat to Barcelona in the opening fixture.
With trips to Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen looming, Newcastle sit sixth in Group F and remain well placed to finish in the top eight, which would secure automatic progression to the knockout rounds. Howe hopes the team's Champions League form can be a catalyst for improved Premier League results, beginning with Sunday's game at Brentford.
Howe said he was "really pleased" and called the result an important response to the West Ham defeat, though he added the team were not at their best. He praised Burn's strike, likening it to the defender's header in last season's League Cup final against Liverpool.
Burn had pledged beforehand that "everybody knows we will turn up" and delivered in the 11th minute, meeting Kieran Trippier's free-kick with a precise header that curled into the far corner from around 10 yards.
Bilbao produced a few threats — Unai Gomez fired narrowly wide and Adama Boiro struck the woodwork from distance — while Newcastle missed a chance to increase the margin when Nick Woltemade's header from a Harvey Barnes cross went off target.
Newcastle suffered another setback when winger Anthony Gordon was withdrawn late in the first half with a recurring hip issue. Early in the second half Barnes created space on the left and delivered a cross that Joelinton met with a powerful header past Unai Simon in the 49th minute, his first goal in nine appearances.
The victory underlined Newcastle's growing confidence in Europe despite inconsistent domestic form and sets up important fixtures in both the Champions League and the Premier League.
English
