Thrilling match ends in a draw, PSG and Newcastle secure play-offs

In a high-voltage Champions League encounter at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United played out a tense 1-1 draw, leaving both teams to navigate the play-off route to the knockout stage.

The stakes were clear before kick-off: a win would have secured direct qualification to the Round of 16, a loss would have condemned the losing side to the play-offs, and a draw meant relying on other results. In the end, neither side could capitalise fully, and with other match outcomes going against them, both were relegated to the play-off stage.

PSG began with a promising start. Within the first minute, Newcastle midfielder Lewis Milley handled the ball in the box, prompting a penalty award. However, PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé, the current Ballon d’Or and FIFA Best Player winner, saw his spot-kick brilliantly saved by Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope, keeping the scores level.

Yet the breakthrough came swiftly for the visitors. In the 8th minute, Georgian forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia curled a low shot from outside the box into the net, giving Newcastle the lead. This was Kvaratskhelia’s fifth goal of the current Champions League campaign, reinforcing his reputation as a decisive attacker.

PSG continued to press for an equaliser but were repeatedly thwarted by Nick Pope’s composure and reflexes. Matters worsened for the French side in the 22nd minute when Kvaratskhelia, the source of Newcastle’s early threat, was forced off with an injury—a blow that might have seemed advantageous for PSG.

However, in the dying moments of the first half, PSG’s defence failed to clear a ball in the box, allowing Newcastle to convert their first meaningful chance in the game.

The second half saw PSG dominate possession and create multiple chances, including a golden opportunity in the 67th minute that Dembélé squandered by firing wide. Despite continued pressure from the Parisians, neither side could find a winning goal.

As a result, both teams were left to battle through the play-off stage. PSG currently sits 11th in the group with 14 points from eight matches, comprising four wins, two draws, and two losses, while Newcastle follows closely with the same point tally.

Champions League Group Standings (After 8 Matches)

With direct qualification slipping away, both sides now face the uncertainty of the play-off stage, where a single slip could end their European ambitions for the season.