Newcastle United vs PSG

St James’ Park forms the backdrop for a handsomely-looking Champions League encounter between Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain.

Following a dreadful run of three consecutive defeats between mid-August and early September, Newcastle United seem to be building a head of steam, with Eddie Howe’s side clocking up a five-game unbeaten streak in all competitions (W4, D1). Yet the only blemish on this high-flying sequence was a scoreless stalemate against AC Milan in their first Champions League outing in over two decades, in which they conceded a staggering 25 shots on goal. But the ‘Magpies’ have consolidated their defensive game since, winning all three subsequent outings in domestic competitions ‘to nil,’ including a historic 8-0 demolition of Sheffield United in the Premier League. The hosts also have history on their side here as they head into proceedings unbeaten in their last 14 European matches on home turf (W9, D5).

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain kicked things off in this so-called ‘Group of Death’ with a 2-0 home triumph over Borussia Dortmund, a result which forms part of their three-game unbeaten run across all competitions (W2, D1). But despite keeping a clean sheet in all three matches during that sequence, Luis Enrique’s star-studded squad slumped to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Ligue 1 minnows Clermont Foot at the weekend, mounting more pressure on the Spanish manager. Keen to make amends for that fiasco and enhance their chances of reaching the Champions League knockouts for the 12th season on the bounce, PSG must defy their abysmal 21% win ratio in away European games against Premier League clubs (W3, D4, L7).