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Champions League Gameweek 3: Where do we stand?
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Iain gushes enthusiastically about Newcastle's performance in their 3-0 win over Benfica on Tuesday and assesses the likely outcome of the Preliminary Table not only for Newcastle but for the other 5 English teams
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Transcript
Solo Hosting by Ian Mackay
00:00:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to The Daily Newcastle. My name is Ian Mackay. It's a solo pod tonight. Everyone is busy again. Of course, it's my Cinderella night on Wednesday and therefore it falls to me to give you your Daily Newcastle.
Newcastle's Best Performance of the Season
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Newcastle 3, Benfica 0. Now Michael came on straight after yesterday to get his thoughts, I'm sure. which were very positive throughout because I was actually there.
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And let me tell you, that is the best live performance by Newcastle I've seen. Certainly this season, and a lot better than a lot that I sat through last season as well.
00:00:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Newcastle are back. Have we said that before? We might have had ah one or two false dawns this season already. But after a patient start in this game,
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Patient start, which saw Dan Byrne um
00:01:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
outdone once or twice by very, very good right winger that Benfica had called Luca Bacchio, a young Belgian lad who was terrific. Get him down on our one-to-watch list.
00:01:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
He might be, yeah hopefully, heading our way at some point soon. Nick Pope paid very well to make one or two saves early in the first half when he got through.
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
His control was very good. One fabulous shot, which he was very unlucky that beat Pope, but clipped the outside of the post. But even in those times, Newcastle looked to have the upper hand bigger, stronger, faster.
00:01:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Chow and Bottman looked impregnable through the middle. And Anthony Gordon started really, really fast and just kept going for the whole game.
Key Players in the Victory
00:02:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
What a performance by him.
00:02:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was asking to see some of his England performances in a black and white shirt and was sadly let down when I watched him in his green short shirt when he was at Brighton because I thought that was a very disappointing performance last Sunday.
00:02:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he was at it from the first minute, ah really aggressive in the tackle, really always looking to go forward, go and pass the fullback, putting crosses in.
00:02:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And of course, he scored The goal after half an hour that made us all breathe a sigh of relief and thought, you know, we are going to do this. Because it was a slow start. It was a frustrating start.
00:02:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
There were one or two nerves at the back. And it's Jose Mourinho. He could do anything. The last time he was managing a Portuguese team, he took them all the way through to win the Champions League.
00:02:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was quite a while ago. But he still has some sort of magic, some sort of aura. and Benfica have a long European pedigree. So i know it's the Portuguese league, and we ought to brush them aside, and the bookies certainly thought we were going to.
00:03:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And in the end, that's exactly what we did, due to some really, really good performances. Gordon first and foremost, he was excellent. But Jacob Murphy was very steady down the right, putting the assist king, putting cross after cross in, sometimes not looking up to see there was nobody there.
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But early on, as I kind of predicted, he had one or two goes from outside the box, which were pretty close as well. He's got some shot on him. Just a shame they're not on target, unfortunately.
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, Gordon settled on Irvs with a ah goal from a well-worked move. Beautiful through ball by Bruno, duplicating one of those precision defence-splitting passes that he showed when he was playing from Brazil.
00:04:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Murphy looked up and played a beautiful ball across. Gordon at the far post, just to easily tap the thing in. Great team goal. Five minutes later, i don't know if you noticed, exactly the same move.
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Bruno running into the box, though, managed to outstretch his foot and take the ball away from Valtemada and Gordon, who were both waiting for a tap into an empty net. um But it was 1-0 for quite some time. we were on top then. it was It was excellent. They were very good.
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really cool head in the centre of midfield, our own Jordi Tonali, Lewis Miley. He was really impressive. And I've been asking for more more game time for this lad all the way through last year.
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's a great option when it comes to needing to rotate. I don't feel that the quality of the midfield drops off at all. And he was um enhanced by another encouraging performance from Jacob Ramsey, who hasn't played a lot of football, but he played the first hour last night.
00:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
He looked quite good. Some lovely touches linked up with Gordon well. um Defended well when he needed to. ah An able deputy for Joe Linton.
00:05:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Miley, an able deputy for Tonali. That was the thing. After we went to a little bit crazy in the second half and the brakes came off, once Nick Pope had thrown the ball a mile and a half for Harvey Barnes to run onto and score,
00:05:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
What a throw that was. um Yeah, the brakes came off and we had a fantastic, fantastic move, um which Barnes rounded off for his second.
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But even after that, even at 3-0, we were pushing then. Joe Linton had and one shot, which he tried to curl around into the top corner, but the keeper got to it.
00:05:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Keeper made a really good save from a, believe him, I can't believe I'm saying this, A really good save from a chest and chest down and volley from Dan Byrne, which he pushed around the post.
00:06:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Lewis Miley came through and had a header that just went over the bar. It was exciting stuff. And, you know, please, please, please, let's hope this is Newcastle kick-starting their season into action.
Upcoming Matches and Predictions
00:06:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because with that sort of attacking threat, three goals from wingers and assists as well, um, That's what we need in the Premier League. And we've got some games coming up at the Premier League, which should give us an opportunity.
00:06:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not saying they're walkovers, they're not. But they're not Arsenal or Liverpool either. and We're at home to Fulham. We're away at Brentford in the next two games. They're winnable games. If we can play like we played last night, they're really winnable games.
00:06:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Particularly when you factor in that there was no Tonali last night. There was no Tino Livramento. There was no Lewis Hall. And Lewis Hall may well be back. for the Brentford game.
00:07:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm excited. I'm excited. Johan Wisser could be coming back for the Brentford game, or if not, the West Ham game. and there was members There must be nine points there for us.
00:07:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
There must be. So, I came on to show you my enthusiasm for how wonderful that team was. I think name-checked everybody. um I haven't said anything about Kieran Trippier. There was one One move where Trippier came in from the right in the first half, and it was just begging. were begging for him.
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
He got into the box. He just had to put his laces through, and he would have taken the net off. But unfortunately, he decided to to play Murphy in and play the ball straight out. I wish he'd have a shot. He's got a great shot on him, but I don't know why but don't why he didn't. um Yeah, that they were really good.
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really good. And as I say, I want them to take that
Champions League Positioning
00:07:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
into the Premier League. What it has done is put us on six points after three games in the Champions League, which is a really good return.
00:08:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
On target, as we'll go into after this break, for us to be making the 16 points that I predicted that we would get. Oh, there's still a lot of football to be played.
00:08:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, we'll go into a little bit more about that. Newcastle in after game week three and the rest of the British teams following on from Kent.
00:09:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, back with part two, wider look at the situation in the Champions League table after match week three. And I'm doing it quite late on the Wednesday night so I can bring in all of the results, which I think are really interesting.
00:09:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Newcastle sitting in eighth place, automatic qualification place in that table, although, as I said, still a lot of football to be played. and Last year in this table, 16 points.
00:09:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
got you into the top eight. Aston Villa had 16 points and finished in eighth place and avoided the nasty qualification round to get through to the knockout stage proper.
00:09:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if you remember in that nasty qualification round last year, and one or two teams were very close to to being knocked out when you would have expected them to get through.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:10:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, I don't know. I've got mixed feelings whether we want to qualify in the top eight or do we want to get another qualification qualification game, a playoff game, because it's an extra game in the Champions League.
00:10:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sort of a home game, another Champions League night. and I don't know. I'd prefer us to finish eighth, I think, or above. i And we're sitting in eighth place, which is marvellous.
00:10:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got six points from nine games. We have five games left, two at home and three away, And looking through that, from Newcastle's perspective, I'll take us to have a win at home against Athletic Bilbao and against PSV.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is my original prediction. I see no reason to change that. and Certainly, i would have had Benfica ahead of those two in terms of the quality of opposition that we were facing. So that's two wins at home.
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And away from home, I've got us to win at Leverkusen. I'm not really sure that they're up to speed just yet. Ten Hag obviously sacked and the new chap looked like he was doing alright but they did absolutely get belted um at home this night.
00:11:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i think we'll win there. I've got us to have a draw at Marseille. Michael thinks we'll get stuffed there. I don't know if they're a good team but you know are they that good a team? ah Remember, away from home I think it's only Brighton that have scored against us in all of the matches we played away from home.
00:11:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we are rock solid in defence. and And we finish off at PSG, which I'm not expecting any points from. But three wins and a draw in four of these last five games would give us another 13 points.
00:11:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
it wouldn't It would give us another 10 points. To go the six that we have, 16 points, that would give us. And 16 points puts us in the top eight. if you agree with how it went last year, which is quite exciting.
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But anyway, where does that put us in comparison to the rest of the UK teams? Arsenal played the same night as we did and walloped Atletico Madrid 4-0, great result.
00:12:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Didn't score as good quality goals as we did, I don't think. But that's 9.9 them. They are they are One of several teams that have still got maximum points. so They're in fourth place because of goal difference.
00:12:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
But looking forward to their remaining games, they have got so Slavia Prague at home. Sorry, Slavia Prague away, Bruges away.
00:12:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think they'll win both of those games. They're away Inter Milan, which is a difficult game. I'll give them a point at that. And they're at home to Bayern. which is a difficult game, and I've given them a point for that.
00:13:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they finish off at Kairat, pot 14, that's another win. So I think Arsenal pick up another 11 points to go with the nine they already have.
00:13:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's 20 points. That'll put them very close, very close to the top, um if not top altogether. and I do think teams like Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich and Inter Milan all look really, really strong.
00:13:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's ah difficult to see where they're going to start dropping any points, to be honest. But perhaps perhaps they're going to drop some points to some of their English opposition, and of which they've got some. um Manchester City played the same night as we did to win, to give themselves seven points.
Predictions for Man City and Chelsea
00:13:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're currently seventh, just ahead of us in the table. Man City i have got to win four out of ah their last five games.
00:14:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've played Dortmund, Leverkusen, Bodo, Glimton, Galatasaray. I take them to win all of those games. They've got a match against Real Madrid, however, which I take them to lose.
00:14:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But 12 points on top of their seven puts them on 19 points. And again, that's got them finishing in the top three or four of this group. and So I think that would put...
00:14:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
If 16 points is enough, Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle. It might be wishful thinking, who knows. But that's where we are at the moment.
00:14:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It puts all three of those teams with more than 16 points and therefore qualifying straight into the knockout rounds without having to do a playoff. Now, let's hear from Jesse and we'll look at the other three English teams who I think will be facing a playoff.
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're back for part three. ah Tonight, I watched the Liverpool game. Liverpool away at Eintracht. Eketike going back to home, scoring a fantastic first goal, and then not celebrating.
00:15:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Although we should have been celebrating, because Liverpool looked really good again. but By winning 5-1, getting themselves three points, to put them on six points equal with Newcastle at the moment in the table.
00:15:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are currently sitting in tenth on goal difference behind Newcastle. Can't be that far behind the goal difference. They just won 5-1. They'll be delighted to halt a run of four consecutive losses, of course.
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And after 15 minutes when Antwerp Frankfurt took the lead, that's quite easy for you to say. When Antwerp, when the Germans took the lead, it did look like they might have been going down the old losing five games in a row.
00:16:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But To be fair, they were really much too strong for them and they could score a win in the second half, to be to be honest. and Puts Liverpool on six points, as I've said. They have games coming up, though. One or two really dodgy games where they needed these points tonight because if they hadn't got them, they could have had some wobbles. I think they'll be fine.
00:16:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But next up, they play Real Madrid, away from home. Sorry, Liverpool, if you lose that one. They've got PSV at home, which I think is a clear win. Then they're away into Milan again.
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've given them a point on my points total, but that is a hard game. Inter Milan, three out of three at the moment. and Then they go away to Marseille, which I think is going to be a very hard game. That is a super intimidating atmosphere.
00:17:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I've given them a point in that one. And they finish with the Carabag guys, Carabag. at home, which they should win. So I think they pick up another 11 points, sorry, pick up another eight points to go with the six that they've got, puts them on 14 points.
00:17:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Two of those are draws where they they're going to have to be good. They are to have to be back to the Liverpool um of old because Van Dijk, Canate, two full-backs, none of them look settled in defence.
00:17:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it is really hard, as Newcastle's entertainers found out, to win anything when you are conceding goals and having to win having to score three or four in every match just to win.
00:18:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But yeah yeah, Liverpool finish on 14 points, I think, and therefore go into a play-off to get into the knockout.
00:18:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Chelsea, they were even more impressive tonight. playing the schoolboys almost, of 10 changes from who they played on Saturday, and but absolutely hammered Ajax, who didn't help themselves by having a player sent off with ah one of those overhead controls where you dive in and stomp all over somebody's ankle.
00:18:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was a clear red card. Chelsea then, again, dominated. They've won 5-1 at home. They beat Ajax. To put them with six points out the first three games, like Newcastle,
00:18:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, who they got left? I've got this, can't read it, Carrier Bag. They play the Carrier Bags away. I've given them a win there. I've got Barcelona at home. ah take Barcelona on that one.
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're away at Atalanta. That's tough. I think they'll be pleased with the draw there. At home to Paphos, the Cypriots, which is a win. And away at Napoli.
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Napoli. not the team I thought they were as Italian champions, but um I've given Chelsea a point there. They could easily win that and be up at 16 points, but instead I've given them a point.
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
So two wins, two draws and a loss that have five games left gives Chelsea a total of 14 points as well. Um, they're currently 11th by the way.
00:19:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I think they'll be finishing around about that with 14 points. and and they'd have a playoff match. Finally, Tottenham, who had a good start, a win and a draw in the first two games.
00:19:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've picked up another draw tonight in a featureless, if you listen to all of the reports, 0-0 at Monaco. But that's the same result that Man City got when they played at Monaco.
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
and So they're on five points. They play Copenhagen at home next. I think they win. Then away at PSG after that, I think they lose. At home to Slavia Prague, that's another win to me.
00:20:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, yeah, at home to Dortmund, I've given them a draw of that. And away at Frankfurt, they don't know.
00:20:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've given them a draw of that. They could well do a Liverpool and and win really well there. Not sure. But Frankfurt score a lot goals as well as conceding a lot of goals. and and I'm still not convinced that Thomas Frank has got Tottenham to be equal to the sum of their individual parts, not quite yet.
English Teams in the Group Stage
00:20:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, the three three, eight more points to come on top of the five they've got gives them 13, which again is two points ahead of where they need to be to finish in these places to get a playoff.
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
So as it stands, in my estimation, all six, of the English teams will get out of this group stage and at least be playing playoffs to get into the knockout stage.
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's what we want. um It's not just wins, it's wins in comparison to the number of teams that you've got and their performance in Europe that determines whether we hit the coefficients to allow us to have the fifth place in the Champions League again.
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
so I think it's important that all six of the teams in the Champions League, as well as Villa and Palace and Forest in the other European competitions, do well enough to give us that fifth place. Because let's be honest, probably three of the Premier League places are already tied up and we're chasing Chelsea and Man U and Tottenham and Aston Villa to finish fifth.
00:22:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
fourth and fifth, to qualify for the Champions League next year. I love this Champions League, though. want to qualify again. I think um and think it's a little bit more relaxed when you play eight to get qualified, so you can
Ian's Enthusiasm for the Champions League
00:22:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
actually enjoy it. But there's some fantastic games that get thrown up um every week.
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's brilliant. And we look at that next round. Liverpool, Real Madrid coming up. Brilliant. Chelsea and Barcelona in the next week after that.
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
The same time that Spurs play PSG. There's some wonderful games. I love the Champions League. I think Newcastle are going qualify for the knockout stages without having to win a playoff.
00:22:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
There you That's my prediction. I'm going to stop there. It's late.