At St James’ Park on Wednesday, Newcastle produced a confident Champions League display as Dan Burn’s towering header set the tone for a 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao. Burn struck in the first half and Joelinton added a second after the break, as the Magpies notched a fifth straight home win across all competitions.
The club had endured a chastening 3-1 defeat at West Ham on Sunday, leaving them 13th in the Premier League and sparking internal reflection. Still, Eddie Howe’s side have taken positive steps in Europe, winning three of their four Champions League outings so far, their sole reverse coming against Barcelona.
Facing trips to Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen next, Newcastle sit in a strong position in their group and look well placed to push on toward the knockout rounds of the competition.
“Really pleased with today. It was an important response to West Ham. I don’t think it was us at our best but we’re in a good position now in this competition,” Howe reflected after the match, singling out Burn’s header and likening its quality to the defender’s strike in last season’s League Cup final.
Burn had signalled the team’s intent before kick-off, saying “everybody knows we will turn up” against Bilbao. He delivered on that promise in the 11th minute, meeting Kieran Trippier’s free-kick with a precise header that curled into the far corner from roughly 10 yards.
Bilbao did register some pressure, forcing a couple of nervy moments and seeing a long-range effort rebound from the woodwork, while Newcastle wasted a clear opportunity when Nick Woltemade’s header from Harvey Barnes’ cross drifted wide.
Winger Anthony Gordon was forced off late in the first half with a recurring hip problem, but the Magpies doubled their lead early in the second period. In the 49th minute Barnes created space on the left and delivered a cross that Joelinton met with power, heading home for his first goal in nine matches. The result underlined Newcastle’s growing confidence in Europe despite uneven Premier League form.
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