PSG and Newcastle United will enter the Champions League play-offs after a 1-1 draw leaves both teams outside the top eight in the league phase
PARIS Saint-Germain and Newcastle United will both enter the Champions League knockout phase play-offs after a 1-1 draw in their final league phase match.
The result left both teams outside the top eight positions that guarantee direct passage to the last 16.
PSG ended the phase in 11th place on 14 points, with Newcastle 12th on the same points and goal difference but fewer goals scored.
Ousmane Dembele had a fourth-minute penalty saved by Newcastle’s Nick Pope after a handball by Lewis Miley.
Vitinha put the hosts ahead in the seventh minute, curling in a low shot from the edge of the area.
Newcastle equalised in first-half stoppage time through Joe Willock, who headed in his first goal of the season.
“We gave everything we could to try to finish in the top eight, but we didn’t quite get there so we have to take another route,” said Newcastle coach Eddie Howe.
He praised PSG as “an outstanding team” and called the draw “a great result for us.”
PSG manager Luis Enrique believed his side deserved to win.
“Newcastle are a team from pot four. We have had difficult opponents but it is the best preparation for the knockout rounds,” he said.
The draw for the play-offs takes place on Friday, with both teams set to face either Monaco or Qarabag.
Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes missed a late chance to win the game, slicing wide from an Anthony Gordon cross in the 88th minute.
