UEFA Champions League League Stage - 4
Newcastle 2 - 0 FT Athletic Club
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' ↓ D. Burn ↑L. Hall
65' ↓ H. Barnes ↑A. Elanga
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
N. Pope 
OCTOPUS
5
Saves
5
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
K. Trippier 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.2
Rating
M. Thiaw 
MAGNET
89
Activity
89
Activity
77
Passes
12
Duels
S. Botman 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
D. Burn 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Midfielders
Bruno Guimaraes 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
65
Entry
S. Tonali
MAGNET
73
Activity
73
Activity
62
Passes
11
Duels
Joelinton
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Forwards
H. Barnes
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7
Rating
N. Woltemade
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
A. Gordon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
41
Total Mins
41
Entry
BENCH
M. Thompson 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
A. Ramsdale
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
L. Hall
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
F. Schar
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Krafth
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Murphy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Murphy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
49
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Willock
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Ramsey
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Miley
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Elanga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
W. Osula
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Athletic Club
Goalkeepers
U. Simon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
J. Areso
LATE SHIFT
12
Late Mins
12
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
78
Entry
D. Vivian 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
A. Paredes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Boiro
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
A. Rego
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
81
Entry
M. Jauregizar
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
70
Entry
R. Navarro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
70
Entry
M. Vesga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Berenguer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
U. Gomez
LATE SHIFT
12
Late Mins
12
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
78
Entry
BENCH
M. Santos
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
A. Padilla
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
A. Gorosabel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Laporte
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
I. Lekue
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
I. Ruiz de Galarreta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
I. Sanchez
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
N. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30/07/2022 | Newcastle | 2 - 1 | Athletic Club | Friendlies Clubs | St. James' Park |
30/07/2022
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
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +19
P: 8 GD: +14
P: 8 GD: +12
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +9
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -13
P: 8 GD: -11
P: 8 GD: -14
P: 8 GD: -13
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
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.
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.