NICK WOLTEMADE rammed Bayern Munich’s bitterness right down their throats to give Newcastle Champions League lift-off.
The £69million club-record signing grabbed the opener before Anthony Gordon’s pair of penalties and Harvey Barnes sealed the 4-0 romp over Union Saint-Gilloise.
Shutterstock EditorialAnthony Gordon scored two penalties as Newcastle demolished Union Saint-Gilloise[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialToon ran riot in Belgium as they picked up a 4-0 win[/caption]
Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge might think the Magpies were “idiots” to fork out the hefty fee to beat them to sign the frontman from Stuttgart.
But that’ll look like a snip if the giant German can continue scoring at this rate.
Woltemade, albeit by some good fortune, took his Toon tally to three in four starts to help provide Newcastle with their first Champions League points.
Eddie Howe knew how big this was and how badly needed this result is both for confidence as well as getting their European campaign up-and-running.
But it was also a huge night for Union’s English skipper Christian Burgess too.
The ex-Hartlepool, Peterborough and Portsmouth man will have been desperate to impress and help his side claim another scalp following last month’s 3-1 win at PSV.
He had his hands full trying to marshall 6ft 6in Woltemade but it was up the other end that he nearly made an early impact and showed why he’s dubbed “Air Burgey” around these parts.
Anouar Ait El Hadj swung in a corner and the centre-back out-muscled two Toon markers to head straight back across goal to tee up Kevin Rodriguez, only for the Ecuadorian to nod over.
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Not that they needed any, having been in full singing voice over an hour before kick off, but that got the Union ultras going even more.
It was going to be an evening for Howe’s more experienced men to stand up and be counted.
And they don’t have many more seasoned campaigners than Kieran Trippier.
He returned to the XI at right-back after Tino Livramento was ruled out for six weeks due to the knee injury he picked up against Arsenal.
This outing made him the first Englishman over the age of 35 to start a Champions League game since James Milner, who was 37 when he played for Liverpool against Real Madrid in March 2023.
Only Ian Rush and Stuart Pearce have begun a game in this competition aged older.
Shutterstock EditorialNick Woltemade turned in Sandro Tonali’s shot for Toon’s opener[/caption]
AFPThe German silenced his hates with another strike[/caption]
And there’s still a lot of life in the old dog yet. He galloped down the right to put one on a plate for Joelinton to double the advantage.
But the Brazilian, who had already fired one high into the stands, failed to double the advantage and headed wide.
It was a frustrating first half for the all-action Samba star that was capped off by a booking.
After going into the book a fortnight ago in the loss to Barcelona, he’ll now be walking a suspension tightrope for the remainder of the league phase.
ReutersGordon struck the first of his penalties before half time[/caption]
PAThe forward celebrated in style[/caption]
Meanwhile, the combination of Trippier and Anthony Elanga were enjoying plenty of joy down the flank, especially after the deadlock had been broken, and the Swede’s burst and pullback saw another chance go begging with Gordon the guilty party.
Fortunately for them they did have the lead thanks to Woltemade – not that he knew much about it.
Sandro Tonali’s 20-yarder deflected off the big man and past Kjell Scherpen from six yards to take his tally in Black and White to three.
Union, still backed loudly by the Ultras, tried to retaliate. Adam Zorganne drove straight down towards Nick Pope and he was at it again moments later, this time forcing the keeper to get down low to push wide.
Shutterstock EditorialGordon was at it again from the penalty spot, this time in the second half[/caption]
GettyIt capped a fine night for the England ace[/caption]
However, the hope of a comeback was brief as chief tormentor Elanga sprang into action again just before the break.
He firstly provided another opportunity for Gordon, who was denied by a brilliant Burgess block.
But on the £55m summer signing’s next attack into the box he was absolutely clattered by Fedde Leysen. Penalty.
Woltemade wanted it, but Gordon got it and he sent Scherpen the wrong way to double the lead.
Howe couldn’t have asked for much more but, after being completely outclassed in the opening period, Union weren’t going to go down without a fight.
GettyHarvey Barnes had the final say with a fine finish[/caption]
GettyThe winger climbed off the bench to cap Newcastle’s fine evening[/caption]
They shot out the traps after the restart with Anan Khalaili curling wide.
Their momentum continued, but there was no beating Pope, as both Ousseynou Niang and Adem Zorgane found out.
And Union’s hopes were completely shattered just after the hour mark after a VAR check caught a handball by Leysen in the box.
Gordon was the man on the spot again, and even though Scherpen guessed right, it was too powerful as the attacker made it three.
That was the England winger’s third goal in this term’s Champions League – more than the two he’s managed in the Prem in 2025 so far.
And it got even better for Howe after a late raft of changes.
Will Osula led the breakaway and slipped it left for fellow sub Barnes to seal their biggest Champions League win.
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