YOANE WISSA MARKS FIRST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE START WITH GOAL IN 3-0 WIN
Newcastle United secure a Champions League play-off berth after a 3-0 win over PSV, featuring Yoane Wissa's first UCL goal.
Yoane Wissa picked the perfect moment for his first Champions League goal, putting Newcastle ahead in his very first start as they cruised to a 3-0 win over PSV Eindhoven. With that, Newcastle locked in at least a play-off spot and kept their hopes alive for automatic qualification. Not bad for a freezing night on Tyneside.
Wissa, Anthony Gordon, and Harvey Barnes all took advantage of PSV’s mistakes. Newcastle made it look pretty comfortable by the end, even though the match itself was anything but a classic. The crowd of over 52,000 didn’t seem to mind—Eddie Howe’s team did exactly what they needed to do, jumping to seventh in the table and setting up a big trip to Paris to face PSG next week.
PSV came in hot, having lost just once in their last 21 games, and started on the brighter side. But Newcastle struck first. Gordon fired over early, then just minutes in, PSV’s keeper Matej Kovar scuffed a clearance. Bruno Guimaraes pounced, fed Joelinton, and he unselfishly squared it for Wissa, who finished coolly. The celebrations had to wait as VAR checked for offside, but the goal stood.
PSV kept pushing, especially with Newcastle losing the ball far too often—Guimaraes, their captain, was guilty more than once. Still, Newcastle doubled their lead on the half-hour. Gasiorowski, whose earlier back-pass had already caused problems, got caught on the ball again by Wissa. The loose ball rolled to Gordon, who tucked away his sixth goal of the tournament.
Newcastle never really got control. They kept giving the ball away, but PSV just couldn’t turn their pressure into clear chances. It took until stoppage time for Paul Wanner to force a save from Nick Pope.
After the break, not much changed. PSV saw plenty of the ball but didn’t do much with it. Newcastle sat deep, waiting for their chances to break. Gordon and Wissa both had moments where they could’ve set up Barnes, but didn’t quite manage it.
Barnes wasn’t going to miss out, though. When PSV captain Jerdy Schouten misjudged a long clearance from Pope, Barnes raced through and smashed home his 12th of the season. That pretty much finished things off.
Wissa nearly got another from a Barnes cross, and Nick Woltemade forced a save late on, but Newcastle looked more likely to score again than concede as the clock wound down.
TOTTENHAM CONFIRM MANAGER POSITION FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH AGAINST ATLETICO MADRID
Tottenham confirm Igor Tudor will remain in charge for the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid this Tuesday.
Tottenham has put an end to the speculation about Igor Tudor’s future by confirming he will stay on as head coach for their upcoming Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. Sky Sports reports Tudor will lead the pre-match press conference on Tuesday ahead of this crucial fixture.
Pressure on Tudor had been mounting following a rocky start at Tottenham. There were murmurs he might be sacked after a series of disappointing results, but the late 1-1 draw against Liverpool seems to have provided a reprieve. Before that, the assumption was that one more loss, especially away at Anfield, could cost him his job. Confirming Tudor’s role for the Atletico clash signals the club is sticking with him for now, at least through the next big challenge.
That challenge is significant. Spurs are trailing 5-2 on aggregate after the first leg against Atletico, a match that drew sharp criticism for Tottenham’s performance. The game was difficult to watch, not only because of the scoreline but also because of a striking moment when goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was taken off just 17 minutes in, a rare and unsettling decision that highlighted deeper issues.
For Tudor, Tuesday’s match is both a test and an opportunity to demonstrate leadership. The confirmation of his position brings mixed feelings among fans. There’s a recognition that stability is important during such a hectic part of the season, yet lingering doubts remain after some shaky displays.
Fans watched the first leg against Atletico with a sense of disbelief. Conceding five goals and that early goalkeeper substitution raised legitimate questions about the team’s preparation and tactical choices. That substitution felt emblematic of a chaotic night, reflecting larger problems.
The gritty draw with Liverpool, though, offered a glimpse of fighting spirit and earned some credit for resilience, even if the overall form is inconsistent. Moments like that can offer managers breathing room in tough times.
Still, supporters crave clarity and a long-term vision. Tottenham has shifted its direction multiple times in recent years, and the fans want a coherent plan moving forward. Tudor now has a clear chance to reinforce his authority and bring some order against a tough Atletico side.
Even if overcoming the deficit proves elusive, Spurs supporters will be looking for signs of organisation, determination, and a stronger team identity. That might be the most valuable takeaway from the clash.
UCL DRAW 2026 LAST 16: PREMIER LEAGUE GIANTS FACE BRUTAL DRAW IN QUEST FOR EUROPEAN GLORY 2026
The Champions League draw is out! Read the full list of fixtures, including Man City vs Real Madrid and Newcastle’s trip to Barcelona.
Manchester City will go head-to-head with Real Madrid in what’s easily the standout fixture of this season’s Champions League round of 16.
UEFA stuck to the same process as last year’s new format, running the draws for the last 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals all on the same day in Nyon, Switzerland.
There’s still plenty of English interest left in the competition. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham, and Man City all made it through, which pretty much guarantees the Premier League an extra Champions League spot next season thanks to the UEFA coefficient.
With the seeding and pairing rules, each of the 16 teams already knew they’d be facing one of just two possible opponents in the next round.
Liverpool and Tottenham ended up in the same section of the bracket. No surprise, since they finished third and fourth in their groups.
Arsenal, who topped their group, drew Bayern Munich. Manchester City got Sporting Lisbon, and Chelsea lined up against Barcelona.
After Newcastle’s play-off win over Qarabag, they were slotted into their section of the bracket.
Now that the draw’s done, here’s what’s coming up: Chelsea will take on defending champions PSG, and Newcastle will get Barcelona.
Real Madrid against Manchester City is the pick of the bunch, two giants going toe-to-toe.
Liverpool will face Galatasaray, while Tottenham will meet Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are set to play either Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta – a tricky tie either way.
Here’s the full Champions League last 16 draw for 2025/26:
Manchester City vs Real Madrid
Bodø/Glimt vs Sporting
Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
Newcastle vs Barcelona
Galatasaray vs Liverpool
Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham
Atalanta vs Bayern Munich
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
And for the Europa League quarter-finals:
Paris Saint-Germain/Chelsea vs Galatasaray/Liverpool
Real Madrid/Manchester City vs Atalanta/Bayern Munich
Newcastle/Barcelona vs Tottenham/Atletico Madrid
Bodø/Glimt/Sporting vs Bayer Leverkusen/Arsenal
The Europa League semi-finals shape up like this:
Paris Saint-Germain/Chelsea/Galatasaray/Liverpool vs Real Madrid/Manchester City/Atalanta/Bayern Munich
Newcastle/Barcelona/Tottenham/Atletico Madrid vs Bodo/Glimt/Sporting/Bayer Leverkusen/Arsenal
As for the dates, here’s what you need to know:
Round of 16: March 10/11 & 17/18, 2026
Quarter-finals: April 7/8 & 14/15, 2026
Semi-finals: April 28/29 & May 5/6, 2026
Final: May 30, 2026, in Budapest
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