UEFA Champions League Gameweek 4
Newcastle 2 - 0 FT Athletic Club
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Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Manchester City
5-3
Sunderland
⚡ Intensity
100
⚖️ Balance
91
🏆 Stakes
67
🎲 Upset
0
Eight goals, hat-trick heroics, pure chaos.
Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Atletico Madrid
2-1
Real Madrid
⚡ Intensity
86
⚖️ Balance
31
🏆 Stakes
100
🎲 Upset
60
A chaotic derby flips Madrid's hierarchy.
Futmetrix Verdict
58
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Deportivo La Coruna
1-1
Real Betis
⚡ Intensity
43
⚖️ Balance
44
🏆 Stakes
56
🎲 Upset
37
Late drama denies Betis away victory.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
11' D. Burn (K. Trippier)
41' ↓ A. Gordon ↑J. Murphy
HT
49' Joelinton (H. Barnes)
Aitor Paredes 57'
65' ↓ H. Barnes ↑A. Elanga
65' ↓ D. Burn ↑L. Hall
65' ↓ Bruno Guimaraes ↑L. Miley
Jesús Areso 69'
↓ R. Navarro ↑N. Serrano 70'
↓ M. Jauregizar ↑S. Sanchez 70'
↓ J. Areso ↑A. Gorosabel 78'
↓ U. Gomez ↑A. Hierro 78'
↓ A. Rego ↑I. Ruiz de Galarreta 81'
83' ↓ N. Woltemade ↑J. Ramsey
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Newcastle
Goalkeepers
Nick Pope 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Kieran Trippier 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.2
Rating
Malick Thiaw 
MAGNET
89
Activity
89
Activity
77
Passes
12
Duels
Sven Botman 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Dan Burn 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Midfielders
Bruno Guimarães
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
65
Entry
Sandro Tonali
MAGNET
73
Activity
73
Activity
62
Passes
11
Duels
Joelinton
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Forwards
Harvey Barnes
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7
Rating
Nick Woltemade
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
Anthony Gordon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
41
Total Mins
41
Entry
BENCH
Max Thompson 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Aaron Ramsdale
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Lewis Hall
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Fabian Schär
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Emil Krafth
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alex Murphy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jacob Murphy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
49
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Joe Willock
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jacob Ramsey
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lewis Miley
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Anthony Elanga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
William Osula
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Athletic Club
Goalkeepers
Unai Simón
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Jesús Areso
LATE SHIFT
12
Late Mins
12
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
78
Entry
Dani Vivian 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Aitor Paredes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Adama Boiro
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
Alejandro Rego
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
81
Entry
Mikel Jauregizar
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
70
Entry
Robert Navarro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
70
Entry
Mikel Vesga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Álex Berenguer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Unai Gómez
LATE SHIFT
12
Late Mins
12
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
78
Entry
BENCH
Mikel Santos
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Álex Padilla
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Andoni Gorosabel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aymeric Laporte
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Íñigo Lekue
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Íñigo Ruíz de Galarreta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ibon Sánchez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Sanchez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nico Serrano 
SNAKEBITTEN
4
On Target
4
On Target
0
Goals
1.2
xG Wasted
A. Hierro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Izagirre Cestona
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/30/2022 | Newcastle | 2 - 1 | Athletic Club | Friendlies Clubs | St. James' Park |
07/30/2022
Newcastle Win
Athletic Club Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 4 GD: +11
P: 4 GD: +11
P: 4 GD: +10
P: 4 GD: +7
P: 4 GD: +9
P: 4 GD: +8
P: 4 GD: +6
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: -8
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -6
P: 4 GD: -7
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -8
P: 4 GD: -9
P: 4 GD: -6
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Newcastle
Athletic Club
Newcastle
Athletic Club
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Newcastle's European Statement: Burn and Joelinton Dismantle Athletic Club
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 23/100. A ruthless opening to the Champions League campaign sees Newcastle assert their credentials on the continent, dismantling a visiting Athletic Club side that offered little resistance at St. James' Park.
Early Dominance Sets the Tone
From the opening whistle, Newcastle controlled the tempo with surgical precision. The intensity was suffocating—Athletic Club found themselves pinned back within minutes. In the 11th minute, the breakthrough arrived with clinical efficiency: Kieran Trippier's delivery found Dan Burn, whose towering presence at centre-back proved too much for the Basque outfit's backline. The defender's header crashed past the goalkeeper, giving Newcastle a dream start. The stakes shifted immediately—Athletic Club's Champions League ambitions already looked fragile.
Defensive Mastery and the Pope Fortress
What made this performance genuinely elite was Newcastle's defensive balance. Malick Thiaw and Burn orchestrated a masterclass in positional discipline, while Nick Pope proved utterly unflappable between the sticks. Athletic Club threw 12 shots at the Magpies—five found the target—but Pope's five saves turned St. James' Park into an impenetrable fortress. The goalkeeper's distribution was equally assured, launching counter-attacks with the precision of a quarterback. Newcastle's 59% possession masked a far more dominant picture; they suffocated Athletic Club's creative outlets and forced rushed, speculative efforts.
The Knockout Punch
The second half brought merely a formality. In the 49th minute, Joelinton sealed the rout, assisted by Harvey Barnes. Athletic Club's defensive shape crumbled under relentless pressure—they managed just 0.58 xG across the entire match, a damning indictment of their attacking impotence. Newcastle's eight shots (four on target) felt almost excessive given their control; they simply didn't need to shoot more to dismantle their opponents. The upset factor was non-existent. This was a statement of intent from Eddie Howe's side: they belong at Europe's top table.
Key Questions
What made Nick Pope the Man of the Match?
Five crucial saves and commanding distribution turned Athletic Club's attacking forays into wasted efforts, ensuring Newcastle's clean sheet remained unblemished.
How did Newcastle's defence control the game?
Burn and Thiaw's positional discipline suffocated Athletic Club's build-up play, forcing long-range attempts rather than clear-cut chances.
What does this result mean for Newcastle's European campaign?
A perfect 3-1 record suggests Newcastle can compete with Europe's elite, though tougher tests await in the group stage.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
A Gritty Fight for European Survival
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 31/100. This is a fixture where avoiding a damaging defeat takes precedence over the traditional glamour of the Champions League.
The Setup
As the winter chill settles over St. James' Park this November 05, the atmosphere won't be one of celebration, but of caution. The Stakes are unusually high for a fourth round; with Newcastle sitting 12th and Athletic Club languishing in 28th, this has become a de facto relegation battle within the league phase. While the hosts boast decent Form (DLWWW), the visitors have struggled to find any Balance, managing only one win in six European outings.
Key Battle
The match will likely be decided in the transition phase. Without high-flying individual Stars dominating the narrative, the tactical duel pits Newcastle's high-intensity middle block against Athletic's pragmatic defensive line. Alexander Isak will need to find space between the Basque center-backs, while Nico Williams remains the primary threat for an Athletic side desperate to escape the bottom tier of the table.
Our Prediction
Expect a cagey, low-scoring affair. Newcastle will dominate possession but struggle to break down a resolute, if limited, Athletic defense. A single moment of quality—or a set-piece error—will decide it. We foresee a narrow 1-0 victory for the Magpies, as they use their home advantage to squeeze out a result in a match that most neutrals might prefer to skip.