Newcastle United claimed their third consecutive Champions League victory after Dan Burn’s powerful header led them to a 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night at St James’ Park.
Burn opened the scoring in spectacular fashion during the first half, before Joelinton sealed the result in the second half, giving Newcastle their fifth straight home victory across all competitions.
The Magpies were eager to bounce back after a disappointing 3-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday that left them sitting 13th in the Premier League and raised questions about their consistency. Despite their league struggles, Eddie Howe’s men have managed to shine in Europe, winning three out of their four group matches, with their only defeat coming in the opener against Barcelona.
As they prepare for upcoming away fixtures against Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle now sit sixth in their Champions League group standings and remain on track to secure a top-eight finish that guarantees progression to the last 16. Howe will be hoping that their European form can reignite their domestic campaign, starting with a clash against Brentford on Sunday.
Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, found themselves short-handed after losing to Real Sociedad last weekend and missing key players Inaki and Nico Williams. Their absence was felt as Bilbao struggled to find attacking rhythm. Unai Gomez missed a golden opportunity early on when he headed Alex Berenguer’s corner directly at goalkeeper Nick Pope—a miss Newcastle quickly punished.
Dan Burn, who had recently claimed that “everybody knows we will turn up” for big games, proved his point just 11 minutes into the match. Kieran Trippier’s precise free-kick found Burn unmarked, and the defender responded with a stunning header that bent into the far corner, drawing admiration even from club legend Alan Shearer, who watched proudly from the stands.
Bilbao attempted to respond with renewed energy, but their efforts fell short. Gomez hit the near post after breaking through the Newcastle defence, and moments later, Adama Boiro struck the woodwork with a thunderous shot from 18 yards. Newcastle could have extended their lead before halftime when Nick Woltemade sent a close-range header just wide from a Harvey Barnes cross.
The home side faced a setback when Anthony Gordon limped off with a recurring hip injury late in the first half. However, their momentum remained unbroken as Joelinton made it 2-0 just four minutes after the restart. Barnes worked his way into space on the left flank and delivered a perfectly floated cross that Joelinton met with a commanding header past Unai Simon—his first goal in nine appearances.
Bilbao’s Nico Serrano nearly reduced the deficit with a long-range strike that forced Pope into action, but the Newcastle goalkeeper’s sharp reflexes ensured another clean sheet and a vital European victory for his team.
What You Should Know
Dan Burn’s leadership and aerial dominance have made him an unexpected hero in Newcastle’s European campaign.
Under Eddie Howe’s management, Newcastle continue to find strength at home, even amid Premier League inconsistency.
Their latest win against Athletic Bilbao not only restores confidence but also strengthens their position to advance to the Champions League round of 16.
