Report, result and goals as Burn and Joelinton headers seal third successive Champions League win for Magpies
Newcastle secured their third successive Champions League victory with a comfortable 2-0 win over Athletic Club at St James’ Park.
Dan Burn’s brilliant header gave the hosts the lead in the first half before Joelinton nodded home a second after the break against an Athletic side missing several of their key stars.
After losing to Barcelona in their first match of the league stage, the Magpies have now moved into the top eight in the table with three straight wins, putting them well in the race to seal automatic progression to the knockout stages.
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Newcastle 2-0 Athletic Club as it happened
Joelinton thought he had given the Magpies the lead after heading a ball over well before heading home confidently, but the midfielder was flagged just offside.
But the end to the home crowd’s celebrations was only brief as Burn broke free at the far post to power a brilliant header into the far corner from a Kieran Trippier free-kick.
Athletic, who had impressed before the goal, continued to threaten and hit the post twice in a few minutes, first by Unai Gomez then by Adama Boiro with a beautiful strike from the edge of the area.
Newcastle probably should have taken two leads just before half-time when Nick Woltemade was unable to place his point-blank header on target after Trippier’s cross put a tackle for the striker.
Another huge chance presented itself to the hosts before the break when Joelinton managed to get the ball around the goalkeeper but somehow fired his shot over the bar when it looked easier to score.
But the Brazilian scored his goal just four minutes after the restart thanks to another header, Harvey Barnes putting the ball back to the 29-year-old.
Victory seemed rather inevitable after that point, although Nick Pope was still busy for the visitors, with the England goalkeeper having to be alert to get his hands on a long-range strike from Nico Serrano.
But the moments of momentum for Athletic Club were all too fleeting and Eddie Howe’s men were able to see off what was a comfortable victory on Tyneside.
