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In a thrilling night of Champions League action, Borussia Dortmund stunned Newcastle with a 1-0 victory, marking the Saudi-owned English team’s first loss in the competition after a 20-year hiatus.
The rain-soaked St. James’ Park witnessed a different Newcastle side than the one that had triumphed over Paris Saint-Germain just three weeks ago, serving as a Champions League reality check.
Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha was the hero of the night, converting Nico Schlotterbeck’s cross in the 45th minute to secure the only goal in a match filled with end-to-end action.
Despite being the top scorers in the current Premier League season, Newcastle couldn’t find their clinical edge, even hitting the goal frame twice in the second half through Callum Wilson and Anthony Gordon in stoppage time.
With AC Milan also in the mix, the competition in this group is shaping up to be a fierce battle that may come down to the wire.
In other Champions League encounters, superstar forwards Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé showcased their skills to bolster their respective teams’ hopes of advancing to the knockout stage.
Haaland bagged two goals in Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over BSC Young Boys in Group G, breaking his Champions League goal drought. Mbappé played a pivotal role in Paris Saint-Germain’s crucial 3-0 home win against AC Milan in Group F.
This latest win puts Manchester City on the brink of securing their spot in the last 16, needing just a win in their next fixture against the same opponent. Barcelona finds itself in a similar position after a 2-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, maintaining a perfect start to their Champions League campaign.
However, PSG leads a group that is growing increasingly competitive, leaving last season’s semi finalists, Milan, facing the possibility of not even qualifying for the Europa League as a consolation prize. As the tournament progresses, fans can expect more thrilling encounters and surprises in the Champions League.