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Newcastle's Champions League Plans SHATTERED by late Leverkusen goal.
9 Plays4 days ago
Michael Grahamslaw breaks down Newcastle United’s 2–2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen — a match that started in chaos, swung in Newcastle’s favour, and ended with yet another late gut punch.
We look at Eddie Howe’s five big lineup changes, the shaky opening 20 minutes, the VAR scare with Malik Thiaw, Gordon’s milestone penalty, Lewis Miley’s brilliant impact, and the defensive lapse that cost Newcastle two points.
With qualification still likely but big chances slipping away, Michael explains what this result means for the Champions League run and what’s next for the Magpies.
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Transcript
00:00:02
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network.
Match Overview: Newcastle vs Bayer Leverkusen
00:00:10
Speaker
hello everyone and welcome back to the daily newcastle i am your host michael graham's law and today well i' going a new cassian i it's two to draw against buy levacu and at the be arena in the che ums leaguega it started dicey and it ended predictably.
Lineup Strategy: Full Strength Despite Derbies
00:00:34
Speaker
And before diving into the match itself, let's talk about a big talking point heading into the game, the line-up. With the tiny and weird derby looming at the weekend, yeah, just a small game.
00:00:46
Speaker
A lot of people wondering whether Eddie Howe would rotate. He told us differently that he than midweek, but we've learnt. Do not listen to Eddie Howe in press conferences.
00:00:56
Speaker
But as many actually predicted, Newcastle did indeed go full strength. And when that team sheet dropped... It certainly had a bit of a different feel to it, particularly in comparison to some weeks we've seen. This felt like Newcastle United's best 11.
00:01:14
Speaker
For those who aren't aware, the contrast against Burnley, Newcastle stuck to the 4-3-3. Ramsdale and Gull, back four of Tino, Cher, Malik Chow, Dan Byrne, midfield of Joe Willock, Gamarez and Jacob Ramsey, and then a front three of Alanga, Volta Mata and Gordon.
00:01:31
Speaker
The four changes that Howe made for Leverkusen, Schaar dropped out, was replaced by Lewis Hall, pushing Dan Burnett a centre-back alongside Malik Chau. Leverimento kept his place.
00:01:44
Speaker
But in midfield, it was Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey who made way in the biggest changes for Sandro Tonali and Joel Inton. um and then the up front, we saw Harvey Barnes return to the side, replacing Anthony Alanga, with the aim of giving Newcastle United a much more direct route to goal.
Challenges: Early Set-piece and Red Card Controversy
00:02:05
Speaker
And to be honest, on paper, it was exactly what we wanted. But at the start of the game, it was far, far from ideal.
00:02:16
Speaker
Bayleberkiewsen ended up taking the lead very early on from a slightly dodgy set-piece. Back post, Tenali's beaten in the air by Arndrick. Tenali kind of like Benton Kerr just a bit in midweek last week, just a little bit you know tamer. and He is actually looking at the ball at some point, but Andrik beats them all ends up. The header bounces off Bruno Gamares. The header is originally going across goal, hits Gamares on the arse and hit goes into the back of the net.
00:02:49
Speaker
When your luck is down, your luck is down. And realistically, it could have got a whole lot worse for the Magpies just five minutes later. Malik Chow at the centre of huge VAR controversy.
00:03:03
Speaker
To be honest, I think Newcastle got lucky. Let us know what you think. Should Malik Chau have been sent off against Leverkusen for the incident in the 15th minute?
00:03:14
Speaker
Leverkusen just broke through us far too easily. Schick was bearing down on goal. Tino Livremendo is quite close which i think is the only reason malik chow doesn't get the red um he's literally inches away from giving away a penalty but he gives away the foul uh he was possibly going to see red for being the last man it was very nervy stuff it was embarrassing defending overall for newcastle I'm going to
00:03:48
Speaker
ah after those twenty minutes to be honest i thought we actually did react quite well But I'm not sure if that was primarily down to Leberkusen sitting back a little bit more. We struggle to break sides down.
00:04:03
Speaker
So only naturally against Newcastle, you take the lead, let us break you down because we're not really capable of doing it. And we saw that in the first half. We had 60, 65% of the ball um and still created almost nothing meaningful in that first half. And that is becoming a theme When Newcastle United come up against a bit of a low block, um which we did for about the last 20, 25 minutes of the of the first half. Not really what I was expecting from Leverkusen, to be honest, but they were much more pragmatic than you would think. And in the end, it's got them a result.
Second Half Improvements: Penalty and Gordon's Goal
00:04:41
Speaker
um But it did take the second half, and what an action-packed second half it was as well. It's actually brightened the game up. Lewis Hall starts things off with a good chance, no robs the ball. I believe it's Kwanzaa who plays the pass.
00:04:57
Speaker
believe it's Pogo who takes the the ball off. um runs ah Runs into the box from the basically the the left flank on the touchline. um he runs into the box and drives it low across the box. Flecken, if it's on target, Flecken makes a save. It's slightly off target. But it was a sign of intent from Newcastle that we hadn't seen in the first half.
00:05:21
Speaker
Then the big moment in the game, Valtemar presses Flecken into a mistake that resulted in a penalty. To be honest, some might say it's a little soft.
00:05:32
Speaker
It's a penalty nonetheless. um It's one of those Mark Flecken, he could just clear the ball. I don't know if there's a bit of pressing done on the halfway line and Flecken's realised, I can't pass there. He's hesitated with his pass.
00:05:46
Speaker
Took a touch to send it over the left-hand side. Vultemar has got inside him and Flecken has slid. and caught Valtemar on the bar ah back of the leg. Let's be honest, Valtemar is not doing anything with it if he does get the ball because there's very few people actually around to help. But that doesn't matter ah because it's there's contact, it's a penalty and while it might have been soft,
00:06:09
Speaker
It was good for Newcastle, especially. ah And they were to be honest, that yeah, it was a penalty. And Gordon stepped up. And to be honest, I'm getting... i said a few games back when Gordon stepped up for a penalty, was saying, a no, no, give it to Valtemarra.
00:06:27
Speaker
I'm starting to get a little bit more confident on Anthony Gordon penalties because the last two have been absolutely brilliant finishes. um And with Eddie Howe saying he tries the hardest on them in training, he's always practising them. You can tell by those last two finishes. And with Anthony Gordon's goal to make it 2-1,
00:06:46
Speaker
against Leverkusen, he officially overtook Tino Esprija and John Beresford as Newcastle United's second highest goalscorer in Champions League history with five goals.
00:06:59
Speaker
um Five is a bit low for a scoop for a team that's been in it four or five seasons, but it's brilliant to see Gordon get that in one campaign. He has had a very good campaign. A lot of them have been penalties.
00:07:14
Speaker
But you've still got stick the ball in the back of the net, so credit to him. And from Newcastle getting the equaliser, I'm aware I've just said giving us the lead. um From Gordon giving us the equaliser, we actually looked pretty comfortable and it looked like we were going to be the team to take the lead. um Gordon hits the post pretty suddenly, shot from the left flank, cutting inside like he does.
00:07:40
Speaker
The second action came from Lewis Miley, who came on as a substitute for the injured Joe Linton. Miley comes on and scores a brilliant header. It's a fantastic cross for Anthony Gordon on the left-hand side.
00:07:53
Speaker
And while I thought he was poor in the first half, Anthony Gordon's performance in the second was fantastic. First half might have been a 0 out of 10, but the second half was a 9 or a 10. So he really built it up and had a a good game in the end. So credit to him.
00:08:09
Speaker
And then another player who had a fantastic game was the goal scorer, obviously, Lewis Miley. When he came on, I mean, I was saying to the rest of the team at halftime, Lewis Miley on for Joe Linton seems like the obvious move here because Joe Linton's not doing much.
Late Drama: Defensive Lapses and Equalizer
00:08:22
Speaker
and Lewis Miley has been fantastic when he played. um and You need someone when they're going to sit back, you need someone who's just a little bit better on the ball, and which is why it was Miley over a oh Joe Willick and obviously Jacob Ramsey after the accident.
00:08:39
Speaker
Against Burnley, can't be trusted, unfortunately, at this moment. um So Miley, it seemed pretty destined that he was going to come on. I thought Murphy would as well for Barnes, and that's what happened as well. and Both looked decent when they came on in their cameos.
00:08:56
Speaker
Malik Chow had a few couple of chances. One before, well, we score. a One at 2-1, one at 2-2. The first is a header back post. Great save by Flecken. The ball is actually behind Flecken by the time he makes a save. And we've seen him make a few of those in the Premier League. So wasn't much of a surprise.
00:09:17
Speaker
um but a great save nonetheless. ah Murphy struck the post in very similar fashion to Gordon, shot cutting in from the left-hand side after the the corner that came from the save from Flecken, which is why Murphy was on the left side than the right.
00:09:33
Speaker
And at that point, you're looking at Newcastle and going, Surely only one team is going to win this. And then the momentum shifts pretty much straight away after Jacob Murphy hits the post.
00:09:46
Speaker
As Leverkusen go up the other end, and Newcastle win the ball back and we start trying to play it out from the back a little bit. Leverkusen start to press and Ramsdale has a bit of a shaky moment playing it out from the back. and He redeems himself fantastically with a great save to deny Nathan Teller.
00:10:05
Speaker
um Overall, I'm not quite sure how I felt about Ramstiel's performance. and But there was a couple of good saves in there. And considering the issue I had ah with them against Burnley was that every shot seemed to go in.
00:10:19
Speaker
Probably can't complain too
Future Prospects: Playoffs and PSG Challenges
00:10:21
Speaker
much. But that was a moment that sort of changed the momentum. And eventually that pressure told Grimaldo equalised. And I said in the build-up with Ian, he was the one to watch.
00:10:33
Speaker
Newcastle just sat off him a little bit too much. um i did feel like the changes that came after the goal should have maybe come five minutes earlier. Tonali and Bruno both look nagged.
00:10:44
Speaker
um Both guilty of not be not closing down enough, maybe. It's harsh because you're 88 minutes into the game. But Tonali makes very little effort to get the ball as it just goes past him. Bruno is a little bit slow in realising where his man is.
00:11:02
Speaker
Again, I'm um'm nitpicking a little bit here. But the ball ends up going through to Grimaldo, who finishes ah very clinically with a pass low and beyond Ramsdale.
00:11:14
Speaker
Punished by probably the best player on the park, um realistically. But it's it's yet again um another point drop for Newcastle. And I'm going to go into just our quick advert from Bionique before I go into how I feel about the overall game. But...
00:11:31
Speaker
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00:12:07
Speaker
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00:12:18
Speaker
um That's what happens when you don't have your volume on everybody. um And to be fair, I might not even mention it and I might just cut it out like a professional. um Or I might just keep it in and show how terrible I am at this.
00:12:33
Speaker
But at the end of the day, Bluebirds come all around and Bluebirds define Newcastle United after the 85th minute. So many goals conceded from absolutely terrible moments at the back. And this felt like another set-piece goal conceded early in the game this time.
00:12:58
Speaker
And then another goal late in the game, two points dropped, and it is becoming a sickening reoccurrence for Eddie Howe's men. ah Literally,
00:13:09
Speaker
In our group chat we have between the team, I said as soon as the second goal went in, ah, now we've just got to survive, not conceding at the end. And then as soon as we did, called it.
00:13:21
Speaker
You knew it was going to happen. Even though Leverkusen didn't do anything for 12 minutes after we scored, he was still sitting there the whole time going, yeah, we might concede here.
00:13:33
Speaker
It's probably going to be an equaliser, isn't it? um And unfortunately, that late equaliser does mean it's very likely that Newcastle United will end up in the playoff round unless they get something in Paris against Paris Saint-Germain, who also dropped points um today. They drew against Athletic Club, who obviously Newcastle beat at St. James' Park. But that also means that on 13 points,
00:14:00
Speaker
it is There is the potential that Paris Saint-Germain need to get something from that game ah to qualify as well. So they will face, I believe it's Sport and Lisbon away from home before playing Newcastle. Lisbon haven't been too bad in the competition themselves.
00:14:19
Speaker
If PSG win, then and there's the potential that they don't go all out again. desperation knockout style ah behavior against Newcastle United. um Because the PSG of now isn't the PSG. We beat 4-1. And I know it was so it was two years ago.
00:14:38
Speaker
So um so it's you know it it does kind of feel like the same team. But this is the these are the champions. these are These are different gravy, should we say. um the Yeah, and to be honest, after leading in Marseille and in Leverkusen.
00:14:54
Speaker
it does really feel like we've let something special slip because if you hold on to, to those two wins, Newcastle be sat on 14 points and third in the champions league table. Um, and would know, would be sitting here knowing that a win against PSV would mean we'd go into PSG, not needing anything to qualify really for that top six.
00:15:19
Speaker
Um, But what it does mean is that Newcastle United, with that point, it does look like we've qualified for the next stage of the Champions League. I say that because we're four points clear of elimination with two games left to play.
00:15:35
Speaker
One of them is at home. Even if we just get a draw, it does look like that be enough. um So qualifying for the next round does feel like a bit of a box ticked at this point. It's...
00:15:48
Speaker
was kind of expected. I think at the start of the campaign, we were predicting 13, 14 points. I think, to be fair, think I think Ian and Joe went as far as to say 18 to 20. But always kind of thought we'd be we' be in a bit of a difficult position and we'd be in around that 14th, spot.
00:16:11
Speaker
which is you know where we are going to be. um We're 12th in the Premier League now. We're 12th in the Champions League. um At least we're consistent, although I'd wish we weren't so consistent in throwing Leeds away. um But...
00:16:28
Speaker
A little bit of a ah fun little thing here. If everything stayed the same after eight games, Newcastle's next to mooncastle's opponent in that playoff round would be PSV, who obviously we play in our next game. And it is pointless to speculate who we might play in that next round. But when you look at some of the teams in and around there,
00:16:53
Speaker
There's one that really you do want to avoid, and that would be Napoli, who have been pretty terrible in the Champions League, actually. But on paper, they look like a brilliant side.
00:17:03
Speaker
There's no Manchester City's, Real Madrid's, PSG's in that bottom eight this time. They all look like, to be honest, even those to 32nd.
00:17:15
Speaker
There is no one there that you would look at and go, you know what, I don't fancy Newcastle over two legs. I think Bayer Leverkusen, if we played them at home, we'd get the better of them. Same with Monaco.
00:17:27
Speaker
And we'd be able to hold out away from home. The only place I don't fancy going away, that'd be Carabaug. And the only team I wouldn't really fancy facing, as I say, would be Nabylie. But Copenhagen are in there, PSV, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco, and then Galatasaray are there in 18th.
00:17:45
Speaker
but they would probably need to lose both their next games to to be in a position where they'd play a team in the top, well, between 9th and thirteenth So PSV has become a pretty pretty big game and because if you lose both of those games, you're on 10 points, then all of a sudden you're looking at potentially playing maybe in a Milan who've just lost two on the bounce, um but four four wins before that, Champions League finalists, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Borussia, Dortmund, ah potentially Barcelona again. So it's it's one of those where it feels like we've just crawled over the line, but PSV is a must win. And we might even need, well, we might even feel like we need to get something against PSG. Yeah.
Conclusion: Reflections and Promotions
00:18:37
Speaker
But it does look like Newcastle of qualified. Job done in that right respect. I think we would have taken a draw. But I know we would have taken a draw before um before proceedings kicked off. So it's not the end of the world.
00:18:52
Speaker
It's just another sucker punch. And to be fair, I'm kind of getting used to it. But that's all for most. I've been Michael Grimeslaw. Check us out wherever you you find your podcasts, whether it's on Spotify, Apple Music, wherever.
00:19:07
Speaker
um Check out our social media platforms, GSPN Newcastle, where you'll get some special little Christmas content over the the festive period.
00:19:17
Speaker
And you can even check us out. on the radio by checking out NUFC Talk TV radio station. But for now, it's another two points dropped into the derby at the weekend, but it was still a good performance. Heads high and let's smack a mack'em.
00:19:35
Speaker
See you later. Don't do that literally, by the way
00:19:42
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network.