Newcastle United defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at St James' Park in the UEFA Champions League league phase, extending their unbeaten run to three matches without conceding. The victory, with goals from Dan Burn and Joelinton, boosted the Magpies to nine points from four games, placing them sixth at the halfway stage. Manager Eddie Howe emphasized the team's determination to reach the knockout rounds for the first time.
Newcastle United hosted Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night, November 5, 2025, in the Champions League league phase. The Magpies took the lead through a remarkable curling header by defender Dan Burn, followed by a goal from Joelinton, securing a 2-0 victory. This result marked Newcastle's third consecutive win without conceding, serving as a strong response to their earlier home defeat against Barcelona.
The team now has nine points from their first four matches, sitting sixth in the table at the halfway point of the league phase. Historically, Newcastle reached a second group stage under Sir Bobby Robson in 2002-03 but have yet to advance to the knockout fixtures. Howe expressed his ambition to change that, stating: “Yes, it’s a big prize for us and our eyes are very much on it, and I want the players to be feeling the same. We said at the start of the Champions League campaign that we didn’t want to have that feeling that we were just pleased to be in the competition. It’s serious. We want to progress.”
Upcoming challenges include away games at Marseille later in November and Bayer Leverkusen in December, followed by a home match against PSV Eindhoven and a trip to Paris St Germain in January. Howe noted the importance of their front-loaded home fixtures: “When you look at the fixtures we were always aware these home games were really important which put an added pressure on us. ... It’s certainly better to go there with nine points behind us.”
Italy international Sandro Tonali delivered another standout performance amid reports of a contract extension that could keep him at the club until 2030. Reflecting on his future after Alexander Isak's summer departure, Tonali said: “This is a tough question because in football, you need to think year for year. ... But now I’m happy here. I don’t think anything about another team.”