Newcastle very nearly moved into the top eight in the UEFA Champions League, with Bayer Leverkusen snatching a point with a late equaliser.
Eddie Howe’s side went down 1-0 inside the opening 13 minutes, with Bruno Guimaraes scoring an own goal, becoming the first ever Newcastle player to score an own goal in a major-European competition.
But a strong second half from the Magpies saw them bag two goals through an Anthony Gordon penalty and Lewis Miley header, taking a 2-1 lead.
Alejandro Grimaldo scored an 88th minute equaliser in order to snatch a point, keeping Newcastle outside the top eight, instead sitting 12th as things stand after six matches.
In this article, we’ll cover
Set-piece woes
Leverkusen were able to cause Newcastle some problems with a set-piece in the opening 13 minutes, with their players forming a cluster at the back post as a start point.
As the ball came in, Leverkusen players ran across the box to arrive in the middle as a decoy, with the delivery actually going towards the back post.
The captain, Robert Andrich, stayed around the back post, making the first contact and guiding it towards goal.
Guimaraes in the meantime, had tried to meet the ball coming over his head to the back post, which saw Andrich’s header hit his back, beating Aaron Ramsdale between the sticks and making it 1-0.
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Gordon turns the screw
Gordon got a goal and an assist to help Newcastle mount a second half comeback, making it seven goals + assists this season in the Champions League.
This levelled Alan Shearer’s record in a single Champions League campaign for goals + assists, when he managed seven in the 2002/03 season.
Nick Woltemade took advantage of a huge mistake from Leverkusen goalkeeper, Mark Flekken, putting him under pressure and getting in front as he went to make the clearance, winning a penalty which Gordon swept home.
But the assist was even better, as Gordon received the ball from Lewis Hall, isolated his man and burst towards the touchline, lifting it perfectly into the box for Lewis Miley to arrive on.
Out of possession approach
In the first half, Newcastle were looking to press slightly more aggressively, especially given the fact they went into a losing game state so early in the match.
Harvey Barnes would jump from right-wing to press the Leverkusen left centre-back, with Tino Livramento then tasked with following Grimaldo who was Leverkusen’s left wing-back on the night.
However, the dynamics between Grimaldo and Ernest Poku ahead of him made it difficult for Newcastle to get a hold of Grimaldo, who could often receive with his first touch infield to keep Livramento at arms length.
In the second half, Newcastle were able to get back in it after Flekken gifted them the chance just six minutes into the half, which helped the Magpies to reset in their 4-5-1 shape.
Whenever the ball was played between the lines, the two lines of engagement were able to squeeze the Leverkusen players to regain possession, launching attacks of their own more directly.
Home town hero
Miley became Newcastle’s youngest ever goalscorer in the Champions League with his goal against Leverkusen, after already becoming their youngest ever goalscorer in the Premier League, youngest ever appearance maker in the Champions League and youngest player to provide an assist in the Champions League for Newcastle.
The 19-year-old arrived perfectly in the box for his goal, meeting the ball in the air and guiding it into the far side.
Miley also gave Newcastle extra ball-winning qualities in the middle of the park, making two ball recoveries and one interception in his 30 minutes played.