Newcastle now have their hopes of Champions League round of 16 qualification resting in the hands of Borussia Dortmund as more VAR controversy denied them all three points in Paris.
How does the table stand?
Fate has been taken from the hands of Newcastle. They must win their match against AC Milan in hope of getting a favourable result out of the other game.
1st – Borussia Dortmund – 10 points
2nd – PSG – 7 points
3rd – Newcastle – 5 points
4th – AC Milan – 5 points
How can Newcastle still qualify?
Newcastle will need to beat AC Milan in their final game if they want a chance of qualifying, but that alone wouldn’t be enough. Newcastle would also need Borussia Dortmund to stop PSG from winning. Dortmund already sealed their place for the round of 16 after they beat AC Milan 3-1. If PSG were to draw and Newcastle to win, the Magpies would go through as they have the better head-to-head record over PSG.
AC Milan can also still qualify if they beat Newcastle and if Dortmund beat PSG. This will make things a lot harder for Newcastle with AC Milan still having something to fight for.
If PSG beat Dortmund, they’d top the group and also end AC Milan and Newcastle’s run in the Champions League; 3rd placed would then drop down to the Europa League.
When is the final group stage match?
The final group stage match will be on Wednesday 13th December with kick-off at 8pm. Newcastle with have a slight advantage as their game will be played at a lively St. James Park. PSG are playing away from home; they haven’t managed to win away in the Champions League so far this season with two defeats on the road. However, they did beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the reverse fixture. Newcastle managed a point at the San Siro earlier on in the tournament.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is still optimistic about his sides fate. He said: “We’re still in it. That’s another thing we can’t forget,” he said.
“We could easily have come here and have not been in the competition anymore. We still believe. As much as it’s a huge, deflating feeling – it could be another story in our season.”
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