Newcastle - AC Milan summary: score, goals and highlights | 2023/24 Champions League
Newcastle vs AC Milan: UCL as it happened
Peeep peeep peeep! There's a booking for Schär when tempers flare between the two sets of players... before Danny Makkelie blows his whistle for full time!
Milan's victory sees them take third place in Group F ahead of Newcastle, who are out of Europe. The Italians will go into the Europa League.
It looked for much of the evening like Newcastle would pull off a famous feat and beat both Milan and PSG to a place in the Champions League knockouts. When the Rossoneri finally got going, however, it all unravelled for the hosts, who had been pretty dominant until Christian Pulisic equalised.
PSG's 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund is just enough to take the Parisians through to the last 16 ahead of Milan. Mbappé and Co finish level on points with Stefano Pioli's men, but take second because they have the better head-to-head record. Dortmund win the group.
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It's all fallen apart for Newcastle. Milan break at pace once again, with men over.
Jovic plays it right to Tomori, who is in acres of space to shoot inside the box - but his low strike bounces back off the upright!
Newcastle are fighting to salvage a Europa League place at this point. Joelinton bursts forward and slips it left to Burn, who's arriving on the overlap. Burn's cross is deflected behind.
Dúbravka comes forward for the corner... and when Milan clear, Theo is left haring forward with an open goal gaping in the distance. He tries to roll it in from way out, but undercooks his shot.
Four minutes of time added on at St James' Park.
Florenzi is booked for tugging back Almirón.
Milan replace Leao with Bartesaghi.
This would be only a second away win for Milan in England, in 22 attempts.
Such has been the turnaround, indeed, that a Dortmund goal against PSG would send Milan into the last 16.
Goal! Newcastle 1-2 Milan - the visitors have turned this game around!
It's a clinical counter, which culminates in Okafor turning it right to Samu, who thumps a shot across Dúbravka and into the top corner. It's a fabulous finish.
Having offered almost nothing for the first hour or so, Milan are ahead and up to third in Group F. Newcastle are going out of Europe altogether as things stand.
Bruno plays it across the top of the box to Longstaff, who has a split second to shoot but dallies. He instead passes to Isak inside the box, and the Swede loses it.
Milan withdraw Giroud for Okafor, and Samu Chukwueze is on for Musah.
Musah is booked for bringing down Isak, and Newcastle have a chance to send a free-kick into the box.
Livramento's ball into the area is deflected to Almirón, who tries to turn it into the danger zone with his head. His ball drops straight to Maignan.
Jovic was also cautioned a couple of minutes ago, I neglected to tell you.
What a chance for Leao!
With Newcastle pressing for a second, Milan win it back and lump it forward, with Llivramento the last man.
Livramento gets his first touch all wrong, allowing Leao to run clear of the home defence - but the Portuguese strikes his finish against the post! That would have sent Newcastle bottom of the group.
Oh, that was very promising from Newcastle, but Isak can't connect.
Joelinton threads a low ball into the run of Livramento, who has yards of space to cross from the right. He fizzes a low ball into the area to the penalty spot, but the Swede can't turn it goalwards.
Hold up! PSG's goal, scored by Kylian Mbappé, has been ruled out after a VAR review!
Newcastle are back to being one goal from a place in the knockout stages.
Joelinton was booked for a flailing arm a few moments ago, by the way.
Ooh, major news in Germany. PSG have scored a second, and are now beating Dortmund 2-1.
If it stays that way at Signal Iduna Park, the result in Newcastle will be very much moot in terms of last-16 qualification. It's currently a battle for third place at St James Park.
Milan make a double substitution, bringing on Pobega and Jovic for Pulisic and Loftus-Cheek.
Now Milan have decided to show up, it's all set up for what looks like bring a hammer-and-tongs finish at St James' Park.
Newcastle replace Miley with Longstaff.
Off the crossbar! Again Newcastle work it left to Isak, who this time can't wriggle himself into a yard of shooting space. Instead, he cuts it back to Bruno, who looks to pick his spot from the edge of the box. Maignan gets a hand to his shot, and turns it onto the bar!
It's a wonderful save from Maignan.
Close-ish from Isak! For the first time since that Milan goal, Newcastle launch a threatening attack. Joelinton plays it out left to Isak, who is in space on the corner of the box. The Swede cuts inside and shoots - but fires over the bar. He wants a corner, but he's not getting one.
It is suddenly a lot quieter inside St James' Park, and Milan's step is noticeably springier.
Newcastle make a double change, replacing Trippier and Gordon with Dan Burn and Alexander Isak.
Milan really hadn't offered very much at all going forward - but they're level.
There were question marks over whether or not Leao was onside, but it's confirmed that he was. Just.
PSG are the big winners from that Pulisic goal; the Frenchmen are back into second as things stand. Newcastle are back into third, with Milan fourth.
Goal! Newcastle 1-1 Milan - Pulisic levels!
Musah slips Leao into space on the left, from where he crosses low to Tomori on the penalty spot. Tomori totally fluffs his shot, but the loose ball falls right to Giroud.
He touches it on to Pulisic, who fires in from point-blank range!
Warren Zaïre-Emery scored PSG's goal, should you be interested.
Trippier takes the corner short to Joelinton, who returns it to the Englishman. He then plays a first-time pass to Almirón, who has peeled off to the top of the Milan box... but with space to shoot, the Paraguayan completely misses his kick. It was a nicely worked corner.
Newcastle get Gordon barrelling forward towards the Milan byline. He crosses low with Almirón and Wilson waiting in the middle, but Theo does well to cut out the ball.
Milan really have been pretty feeble.
Over in Dortmund, we've had another goal. PSG have equalised. As I say, though, the Frenchmen need to score another to move back above Newcastle.
Again Wilson lets fly from just outside of the Milan area, but again it's far too close to Maignan. The Milan goalkeeper claims it easily.
Big news from Germany: Borussia Dortmund have taken the lead against PSG. As it stands, the Ligue 1 club need two goals to prevent Newcastle from leapfrogging them into second.
Karim Adeyemi has scored for Dortmund, who need just a point to make sure they top Group F.
Milan keep the ball for a prolonged period, before Giroud turns a neat pass round the corner into the run of Leao on the left.
Leao squares it to the top of the box, but can't find anyone in a Milan shirt.
Right away, Wilson takes aim with a snapshot from the edge of the box when the Milan defence is sloppy about clearing its lines, but the striker's effort is right at Maignan.
Peeeep! The teams are back out and we're underway once more.
No half-time changes for either side.
Joelinton fires in Newcastle's first-half opener at St James' Park.
(Photo: EFE/EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN)
HT scores in the UCL
Here are the half-time scores in all the 3pm ET kick-offs in the Champions League.
In Group H, the only other section where a last-16 spot is still up for grabs, Porto are winning their shootout with Shakhtar for knockout-stage qualification.
The Portuguese can actually afford to draw and go through, so they're firmly in the driving seat.
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Some half-time reading for you: today's action is the last of the Champions League group-stage as we know it, before the tournament's new format is introduced next season. My colleagues Joe Brennan and Will Gittins have the lowdown on what the round-robin phase will look like as of 2024/25.
Miley makes UCL history
That rather nifty assist by Lewis Miley, by the way, makes the 17-year-old the youngest player ever to set up a goal for a Premier League club in the Champions League.
Peeep peeeep peeep! It's pretty much been the ideal half for Newcastle. Milan have offered next to naff-all, and Joelinton's stunner has the Magpies through as it stands.
Maignan misses Trippier's delivery and Lascelles gets his head to it, but can't get any power on it. Maignan missed it because he was impeded by Joelinton, though, and Milan have a free-kick.
Maignan is rather miffed about being fouled by Joelinton, and angrily remonstrates with Makkelie. The referee responds by booking the goalkeeper.
Trippier touches it right to Almirón, who speeds towards the right-hand byline. His low ball into the box is cut out, and Newcastle have another corner.
There will be two minutes of time added on at St James' Park.
Milan keep it for an uncharacteristically long period of time in the Newcastle half, until Musah plays an inch-perfect pass to absolutely no-one at all. There are shouts of 'wahey' from the home crowd, and the Magpies can bring it clear.
Trippier delivers the free-kick right onto Joelinton's head, but the Brazilian mistimes his jump. The ball bounces off the wrong side of his head, and away.
Newcastle win a corner, which Trippier delivers. It's headed clear, but only as far as Almirón, who is barged over by Leao.
That gives the hosts an enticing free-kick just a few yards short of the corner of the Milan box, and earns Leao the first yellow card of the night.
As things stand, Newcastle are heading through with Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund and PSG are still drawing at Signal Iduna Park, so the Magpies would finish level on points with the Parisians, and would take second by virtue of their superior head-to-head record.
Goal! Newcastle 1-0 AC Milan - it's no more than the Magpies deserve!
It's a lovely opener, and it's richly merited. Gordon brings it forward, before slipping it right to Miley.
Miley plays a smart first-time ball back to Joelinton to his left, giving the Brazilian space to shoot just inside the box. And shoot he does.
Joelinton drives it high, past Maignan and into the top corner. Beautiful goal.
Giroud tries to flick the ball forward into Reijnder's run towards the top of the Newcastle area, but the Dutchman can't gather it and Dúbravka is quickly off his line to grab hold of the ball.
Again Almirón tries to find Wilson, after Newcastle break at pace and work the ball right to the Paraguayan. Tomori is there to clear.
Almirón tries and fails to lift the ball into the path of Wilson, who has set off on a run towards the Milan box.
Still 0-0 in Dortmund.
Tomori (second right) beats Almirón (third right) to the ball to prevent the Newcastle winger from scoring from close range.
(Photo: REUTERS/Molly Darlington)
Joelinton crosses from the right to Almirón, who gets a firm enough head to it - but can only direct the ball straight at Maignan.
Oh, wow. Having offered little in attack and almost gone behind a moment ago, Milan carve out a clear chance to score.
It's worked left to Leao, who has peeled off into acres of space to shoot from the left-hand side of the Newcastle box. He tries to bend it past Dúbravka and into the far corner, but slices it wide! What an excellent opportunity that was for the visitors.
What an intervention by Tomori! A goal-saving challenge if ever I've seen one.
Trippier rolls a neat through ball into the path of Joelinton, who advances into the box and cuts it back across goal. Joelinton's pass takes Maignan out of the equation, but with Almirón waiting to tap in from about four inches out, Tomori somehow gets there first and hooks it away!
That's Newcastle's best chance yet, by quite a distance.
Joelinton turns and plays it inside to Schär, who has a pocket of space from which to shoot from deep. The defender takes Joelinton up on his invitation, but slaps his shot very high.
Gordon tries a give-and-go with Almirón on the edge of the Milan box, but Calabria cuts out the Paraguayan's return ball into the penalty area.
In Germany, by the way, it remains goalless between Borussia Dortmund and PSG. As things stand, Newcastle are one goal from leapfrogging the Parisians into second in Group F.
Now it's Milan's turn to counter at pace. Loftus-Cheek wins the ball back, before feeding Leao. He, in turn, plays it out wide to Pulisic - but the American's cross is sliced. It flies over Dúbravka's bar and into touch.
Milan enjoy a rare spell of sustained possession in the Newcastle half - but when the hosts win it back, they're quickly breaking towards the away box.
Gordon plays it square to Joelinton, who has a yard or two to let fly from range. His shot deflects off Florenzi and the sting is taken out of it, however.
64% possession for Newcastle thus far, according to Opta.
Milan finally get Rafa Leao onto the ball on the left wing, but he's quickly crowded out by a delegation of Newcastle defenders.
It's been pretty much all Newcastle ball so far.
The hosts cross the halfway line once more, working it left to Gordon. He scampers in from the touchline, in search of an angle to play a pass. He finally elects to send a ball out towards Almirón on the right wing, but his pass is overhit. It flies out for a throw-in to Milan.
Trippier, of course, hasn't been having the best time of it of late. This would be a very good time for him to produce one of his trademark free-kicks... but he flashes his shot a yard or so over Maignan's bar.
Back come Newcastle, and Gordon wins a free-kick when he's felled by Pulisic. It's in shooting territory, nicely positioned for Trippier to try and wrap his foot around it and ping it into the top corner.
Newcastle put together their first attack of any real substance - and Tomori almost slices the ball into his own net!
Trippier touches it right to Almirón, who gets it out of his feet and whips a left-footed inswinger into the Milan box. It's not a particularly threatening delivery, but Tomori gets his feet in a mess and completely miskicks his clearance.
It loops up high towards Miagnan's goal, but the Milan keeper is alive to the danger and grabs hold of the ball.
Peeeep! Danny Makkelie gets us up and running at St James' Park!
Teams out!
The teams are out on the pitch, and we've had the Champions League anthem. For at least one of the teams, it'll be the last time this season.
Let me shock you: it's loud at St James' Park.
Almost game time in Newcastle!
It’s almost time to go at St James’ Park, where the players are just coming out of the tunnel now.
Before kick-off, here’s a final reminder of the teams:
Newcastle
Dúbravka, Trippier, Lascelles, Schär, Livramento, Miley, Bruno, Joelinton, Almirón, Wilson, Gordon.
AC Milan
Maignan, Calabria, Tomori, Theo, Florenzi, Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders, Musah, Pulisic, Giroud, Leao.
Who is the referee for Newcastle vs Milan?
The match referee at St James' Park will be the experienced Dutchman Danny Makkelie.
A Champions League referee since 2014, the 40-year-old will be making his 45th appearance in the competition.
Today's video assistant referee (VAR) will be Makkelie's countryman Rob Dieperink.
(Photo: CHEMA DIAZ/Diario AS)
Warm-ups in full swing
The players are out and warming up at St James' Park, where we have 20 minutes to go to kick-off.
If you're in the US and you're wondering how you can watch Newcastle vs Milan on TV or online, incidentally, let me point you in the direction of my colleague Fidel Rubio's guide on who is showing the game in the States.
Newcastle chances of qualification just over 25% - Opta
Opta's supercomputer gives Newcastle a 54.9% chance of beating AC Milan today - and a one-in-four chance of qualifying for the Champions League round of 16.
The stats specialists put the likelihood of the hosts snatching second in Group F at 26.1%. Milan, on the other hand, are given just a 6.6% chance of finishing in the top two.
Newcastle full-back Kieran Trippier arrives at St James' Park.
(Photo: EFE/EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN)
Newcastle's home comforts
Newcastle fans can also take heart, obviously, from their team’s terrific home form this season.
Eddie Howe’s men may have suffered consecutive three-goal defeats on the road in the Premier League, but at St James’ Park they have been rock solid. The Magpies’ last nine home games in all competitions have yielded eight wins.
It should also be noted that Newcastle, who were beaten by Dortmund in their last Champions League game at St James' Park, have never lost consecutive home matches in Europe.
What is AC Milan's away record vs English clubs?
The first Italian team to go to Newcastle since city rivals Inter in 2002/03, AC Milan have a decidedly iffy away record against English clubs.
In 21 visits to England, indeed, the seven-time European champions have lost 12 times and won just once.
That sole victory came in 2005, when Hernán Crespo’s goal gave Milan a 1-0 triumph over Manchester United in the Champions League last 16.
What the coaches said: Milan boss Pioli
Message to players:
“What I’ve said to the players is very simple: we’ve got one objective, we’ve only got one chance. [We have to] win the match. I know what’s awaiting us, but our team will do everything they can to come through this big challenge.”
“Newcastle have s only lost to Liverpool and Dortmund here [this season] - they’ve beaten everyone else that’s come here. They’re very strong here, but we have to make it feel like our moment.”
AC Milan fans on their way to St James' Park ahead of kick-off in Newcastle.
(Photo: Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith)
Leao back for Milan
Milan also make just the one change to their team, as they, too, welcome back a key forward from injury. Rafael Leao returns to the Rossoneri side, having last played for Stefano Pioli's side in early November.
Fikayo Tomori is the visitors’ only fit recognised centre-back, so full-back Theo Hernández will again deputise at the heart of the defence.
AC Milan team news
Milan's starting line-up is in: Maignan, Calabria, Tomori, Theo, Florenzi, Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders, Musah, Pulisic, Giroud, Leao.
What the coaches said: Newcastle boss Howe
Potential for "special night"
“We’re very positive going into the game. It’s got all the hallmarks of being a very special night. All we can, quite predictably, is try and win the game, and try and give our best performance. We’ll give everything to try and do that.”
Desperate to stay in UCL:
"Milan are very dangerous but we’re as hungry as you can be. We’re fiercely determined. Every fibre, every part of our being wants to stay in this competition.”
Clarion call to home crowd:
“They have been [the 12th man] for us this season, for sure. We’re going to need every voice, every person can make a difference. The supporters have never let us down at home; they’ve been incredible.”
Magpies dealing with long injury list
Pope is far from Newcastle's only injury absentee, of course. The hosts are also without: Jacob Murphy, Dan Burn, Elliot Anderson, Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Joe Willock, Matt Targett and Javier Manquillo.
And Sandro Tonali, Newcastle's summer signing from AC Milan, is currently suspended for breaching Italian betting rules.
Wilson returns to Newcastle XI, Dúbravka starts
Eddie Howe makes just one change to the Newcastle team that lost 4-1 to Spurs this weekend, with Callum Wilson coming back into the hosts’ XI.
Wilson returned from injury as a substitute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
There had been question marks over whether Martin Dúbravka would play, as the Slovakian has been struggling with illness. Third-choice keeper Loris Karius had been primed to step in, but Dúbravka is able to start in the end.
A reminder that Newcastle are without their No. 1 stopper, Nick Pope, who faces a sizeable layoff with a shoulder injury.
(Photo: Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith)
Newcastle team news
We have a confirmed Newcastle line-up: Dúbravka, Trippier, Lascelles, Schär, Livramento, Miley, Bruno, Joelinton, Almirón, Wilson, Gordon.
What do AC Milan need to qualify?
Milan, meanwhile, will only go through to the knockout stages if they beat Newcastle and PSG lose to Dortmund.
If the Rossoneri win and Paris get a point in Germany, the Frenchmen will finish higher as they have the better head-to-head record. In that scenario, Milan will go into the Europa League.
(Photo: EFE/EPA/MICHELE MARAVIGLIA)
What do Newcastle need to qualify?
If they're to take their place in Monday's draw for the Champions League last 16, Eddie Howe's men must beat Milan and hope that PSG do not win against Dortmund.
Newcastle will finish third, and drop into the Europa League, if they and PSG both win, or if they draw with Milan.
(Photo: Reuters/Lee Smith)
How things stand in Group F
Borussia Dortmund are already through, and will seal top spot in Group G if they avoid defeat against Paris Saint-Germain today.
As for PSG, their controversial late leveller against Newcastle two weeks ago means they have their fate in their hands: if they beat Dortmund, it won't matter what happens at St James Park.
Newcastle and Milan both trail the second-placed Parisians by two points, with the Magpies above the Italians on goal difference.
| group F | T | MP | W | D | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Newcastle vs AC Milan: welcome!
Hello! We have come to the crunch in the 'group of death'. On the final matchday in Group F, Newcastle host AC Milan in a game that both must win to stand any chance of reaching the Champions League last 16.
Kick-off at St James' Park is at 3pm ET/12 noon PT - about 90 minutes from now.