Local lads Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff scored as Newcastle celebrated a rousing 4-1 win over French champions Paris St Germain on the Champions League’s return to Tyneside.
Miguel Almiron lit the touch paper for a memorable evening in front of more than 50,000 raucous supporters at St James’ Park by scoring Newcastle’s first goal in Europe’s premier club competition since Alan Shearer’s double at Inter Milan in March 2003.
Burn and Longstaff put the Group F tie beyond PSG before Fabian Schar smashed home a superb fourth to secure three points to go with the one with which they had returned from AC Milan a fortnight ago.
Lucas Hernandez gave PSG brief hope when he pulled one back but a star-studded line-up including Kylian Mbappe were kept largely subdued in the Magpies’ first home Champions League fixture in two decades.
In the so-called ‘group of death’, Eddie Howe’s side sit top after two games as Borussia Dortmund held Milan to a goalless draw at the Westfalenstadion.
Manchester City struck twice late on to continue the winning start to the defence of their crown with a hard-fought 3-1 success at RB Leipzig.
Julian Alvarez finally settled City’s nerves in the Group G encounter with a fine strike six minutes from time at the Red Bull Arena before fellow substitute Jeremy Doku wrapped up the win.
Phil Foden had opened the scoring midway through a first half the holders dominated but the hosts responded against the run of play through Lois Openda.
Osman Bukari’s strike two minutes from time helped Red Star Belgrade claim a point after a 2-2 draw against Young Boys.
The Serbian side went ahead through Cherif Ndiaye and although Filip Ugrinic’s strike and Cedric Itten’s penalty turned the tide, Bukari slotted home to secure a share of the spoils.
Substitute Ferran Torres snatched the only goal of the game as Barcelona extended their 100 per cent start in Group H with a hard-fought 1-0 win in Porto.
The hosts had most of the chances but were undone by a blunder from Romario Baro in first-half stoppage time which allowed Torres to go through and slide the ball past Diogo Costa.
It was not all plain sailing for the visitors, who had to survive a torrid late spell which culminated in Gavi being sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card.
Toby Alderweireld missed a last-gasp penalty as Royal Antwerp threw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk.
The hosts were cruising as Arbnor Muja and Michel-Ange Balikwisha struck but Danylo Sikan scored either side of Yaroslav Rakitskiy levelling as Donetsk turned the match on its head.
Alderweireld had the opportunity to at least claim a point for Antwerp after Taras Stepanenko was adjudged to have handled in the area but the former Tottenham defender put his spot-kick wide.
Celtic’s 10-year wait for a Champions League win at Parkhead continued as Lazio scored at the death to secure a 2-1 Group E victory – just after the home side were denied a goal following a lengthy VAR check.
Kyogo Furuhashi’s effort was cancelled out by Matias Vecino before substitute Luis Palma fired home in the 81st minute after Daizen Maeda had attempted an overhead kick from Alistair Johnston’s cross, and the VAR officials decided he was offside.
There was a bigger blow to come when former Barcelona and Chelsea forward Pedro headed home from fellow substitute Matteo Guendouzi’s cross five minutes into stoppage time.
Alvaro Morata bagged a brace as Atletico Madrid twice came from a goal down to secure a 3-2 triumph over Feyenoord.
Mario Hermoso’s own goal and David Hancko nudged Feyenoord ahead twice but Morata and Antoine Griezmann made sure Atletico went in at the break level. Morata then struck shortly after the resumption to secure victory for Atletico.
Raphinha hails Barcelona after statement win over Valladolid
Barcelona forward Raphinha believes the team have laid down a statement of their intent by starting the season with four straight wins in LaLiga.
Raphinha scored the first hat-trick of his career and also delivered two assists on Saturday, as Barca crushed Real Valladolid 7-0 at Camp Nou.
Hansi Flick's side already possess a four-point cushion at the top of the table after also recording victories over Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Rayo Vallecano.
Raphinha believes their results have demonstrated the club got things right in the transfer market, telling Movistar: "Today's game has shown that there is no need for anyone else to come. We are very happy because of that.
"We are in very good shape. The team is working hard. Today's result shows what we are working for.
"We saw that the coach was on the sidelines asking for more goals and that's our mentality.
"We are hungry and want to score as many goals as we can. When we are dominant like we have been, the best way to respect our rivals is not taking the foot off the gas."
Raphinha was one of the players who faced criticism during Barca's trophyless 2023-24 campaign and was rumoured to be on his way out ahead of the new season.
The Blaugrana again battled financial restrictions throughout the window, allowing Ilkay Gundogan to leave in order to secure the registration of new arrival Dani Olmo.
With his future now certain, Raphinha is keen to nail down a starting spot and contribute on a regular basis.
"I don't know if today's was my best game, but it's certainly among my best. I will try to play even better and as much as I can," the Brazilian said.
"I'm very happy to be able to help the team. I feel good. I knew that this season would be very important for me. I'm looking for my best version to help my team-mates and be more confident."
Lopetegui rues missed opportunity as West Ham lose to Man City
West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui was not encouraged by the performance of his team despite losing 3-1 at home to Manchester City in their third league game.
“It is true that City is one of the best teams around the world for sure… but it is also true too that in the second half we have been very close to a draw,” he said speaking to BBC Match of the Day.
“I think we have played one very good second half. The start has been very good for us too.”
West Ham threatened for extended periods of the match and had chances to level the match at 2-1 down, with the best coming from Mohammed Kudus as he smashed a shot against the bar in the second half.
They also started the game brightly before going a goal down inside 10 minutes.
“In my mind we started very well, being aggressive,” said Lopetegui.
“We know in this plan normally they have initiative, it’s very difficult to not concede initiative then. That’s why you have to do a lot of very good things to overcome them.
“In the second half we had chances, I think we kept the ball much more, much more, and didn't concede a lot of chances."
But the hosts were ultimately undone by the brilliant finishing of Erling Haaland, who scored his second hat-trick in as many matches.
“He is one of the best players in the world, that's why he plays for Manchester City,” he said.
“You have to compete with these kind of players. City has the power and the quality to create chances.”
But ultimately, he was left frustrated at the sense of a missed opportunity and that his team were unable to earn themselves a draw that hadn’t seemed implausible during the match.
“Today I think the first goal was a pity for us but I’ve said it. I was happy with the performance think we were able to draw but again they damage us,” he said.
“Against this kind of team, if you make a mistake they don’t forgive. This is the difference they have… A little mistake they punish you, they punish us.
“We have to improve, to know to compete against this kind of team to be close to perfection.
“Don't make mistakes, be calm, defend well… we have quality players too.”
Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 Leipzig: Visitors fightback halts unbeaten streak for Alonso's side
Bayer Leverkusen suffered their first defeat in 36 Bundesliga matches, as Leipzig came from behind to stun Xabi Alonso's side 3-2 at BayArena.
Lois Openda struck twice for Marco Rose's, who recovered from 2-0 down to make it two wins from two and move to the summit of the table.
It looked like business as usual for the reigning Bundesliga champions when they scored twice in the last seven minutes of the first half through Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo.
However, Leipzig replied deep into first-half stoppage time with Kevin Kampl reducing the deficit.
Openda then brought the visitors level in the 57th minute, before a stunning long-range strike completed the turnaround 10 minutes from time, condemning Leverkusen to their first league defeat in 15 months.
Data Debrief: Leverkusen's long streak comes to a shuddering halt
Leipzig became the first side to beat Leverkusen in a Bundesliga match since Bochum achieved the feat a staggering 462 days earlier.
The visitors have begun a Bundesliga season with two wins from two for only the second time, also doing so in 2019-20.
They are also now unbeaten in 13 league matches, their longest such streak since Rose took charge.
As for Leverkusen, their invincible streak is officially history, as is their 29-game unbeaten run on home soil.
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