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Arguably the most impactful match of the final league-phase day will see Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United go head-to-head for a top-eight spot in the Champions League standings on Wednesday.

Defending champions PSG sit sixth in the table, the highest-positioned of the nine teams level on 13 points thanks to their +10 goal differential and 20 goals scored through the first seven matches.

Newcastle sit just one place behind them in seventh, level on both points and goal differential but with four fewer goals scored than their French hosts.

A potential winner of this match will secure a top-eight spot and, with it, a coveted bye to the Round of 16. A loser, meanwhile, will almost surely be left to navigate a knockout playoff, and a draw puts both teams in significant peril of being jumped by one of the many teams below waiting to pounce.

LIVE STANDINGS: Keep track of every game and who is going through via SN’s live Champions League table.

PSG vs. Newcastle score

  Score (1H) Goal scorers
PSG 1 Vitinha (8′)
Newcastle 0 —

Location: Parc des Princes (Paris, France)
Referee: Slavko Vincic (SVN)

Starting lineups:

PSG (4-3-3, right to left): 39. Safonov (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 5. Marquinhos, 51. Pacho, 25. Mendes — 33. Zaire-Emery, 87. Neves, 17. Vitinha — 29. Barcola, 10. Dembele, 7. Kvaratskhelia (Doue, 22′).

Newcastle (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Pope (GK) — 33. Burn, 12. Thiaw, 4. Botman, 3. Hall — 67. Miley, 8. Tonali, 28. Willock, 41. Ramsey — 20. Elanga, 27. Woltemade.

PSG vs. Newcastle live updates, highlights from Champions League match

20th min: The first yellow card of the match is shown to Anthony Elanga, who goes in for a hip-to-hip challenge with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia but catches the Georgian on the ankle after the coming-together.

Kvara seems in quite a bit of pain. He is in real trouble here, and is quite demonstrative while being treated by the PSG medical staff. This isn’t good at all…

He’s started the match extremely well, but will have to come off, as he limps to the touchline with one arm over a trainer and the other over Achraf Hakimi. He will be replaced by Desire Doue.

12th min: Chance, PSG! A big save by Nick Pope denies Ousmane Dembele from a tight angle! Then minutes later, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gets an opening to shoot but puts it straight at the Newcastle goalkeeper.

The defending champions have been electric to begin this game, and they are putting Newcastle under excessive pressure! The visitors will have to improve if they wish to avoid being blown away!

8th min: GOAL! PSG! THE HOSTS ARE IN FRONT! Unlike the earlier opportunity from the spot, they’ve earned this one as Vitinha delivers a wonderful blast into the top corner! That’s a world-class goal!

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia feeds the Portugal international laterally at the top of the penalty area, and after a simple chop sends Dan Burn flying by, he’s got acres of space to pick out his choice of finish, and makes no mistake with the top-shelf delivery!

Watch PSG goal in USA:

HIGHLIGHT: Watch PSG goal in UK | Watch in Canada

1st min: PENALTY! PSG! LOOK OUT! PSG are straight into the attack and there’s an immediate penalty shout! Bradley Barcola carries the hosts into the penalty area, and the ball pops up and catches the arm of Louis Miley!

There’s a long VAR check, but this would be absurdly harsh. The ball bounds up, off the body of Barcola, and into the outstretched arm of the Newcastle defender. His arm is away from the body, but he knew nothing about it…

BUT SURE ENOUGH, IT’S A PENALTY! A review is recommended, and Slavko Vincic points to the spot! How unfortunate is that!

Vitinha hands the ball to Ousmane Dembele, who steps up, and…IT’S SAVED!!!!! The reigning Ballon d’Or winner strikes a powerful effort to the right, but Nick Pope sees it coming and dives to make a sensational stop! That feels like justice for the harsh decision!

HIGHLIGHT: Watch Nick Pope’s penalty save in UK

Kickoff: They’re under way at Parc des Princes!

PSG vs. Newcastle: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to kickoff: With the match just minutes away from kickoff, here’s the situation at the top of the league phase standings:

Arsenal and Bayern Munich are the only teams to have mathematically clinched a top eight spot so far. Below them are Real Madrid and Liverpool on 15 points, and then nine other clubs on 13 points, topped by PSG and Newcastle with their surperior goal differential and goals scored.

A draw leaves both teams in this match vulnerable, so expect them to both open things up towards the end and gun for victory. A potential winner mathematically clinches a bye to the Round of 16, while a loser is almost surely left to a knockout playoff game given the likes of Chelsea, Barcelona, Man City, Atletico Madrid and many others just below them can jump above with just a single point. There’s so much on the line!

30 mins to kickoff: Newcastle have a brutal upcoming schedule, with a number of difficult games away from home, including this one today. The Magpies have not been nearly as strong on the road as they have at St. James’ Park this season, with just two Premier League wins from 11 on the road plus one from three in Champions League play so far.

“There have been several questions asked about our away form, to handle pressure, to be resilient,” Eddie Howe said yesterday of their results away from Tyneside. “This will be a really good game to try and answer some questions and be effective in every environment that we play.”

45 mins to kickoff: There were reports this morning that the Saudi Pro League will make a real attempt at signing Ousmane Dembele this summer to one of its PIF-backed clubs.

Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports has stated that while the Saudis are already laying the groundwork for a massive bid and huge offer to the player, Dembele is not likely to be convinced by the move. His contract at PSG runs through 2028, so the time to sell at top value is two years from expiration, but it’s hard to imagine the club offloading their reigning Ballon d’Or winner so soon while he’s still in his career peak.

Then again, that’s what we all thought about their goalkeeping situation until they shoved Gianluigi Donnarumma out the door…

1 hour to kickoff: The PSG lineup is in as well, and it offers some tweaks just as the Newcastle one did.

The biggest surprise is the instillation of backup goalkeeper Matvey Safonov in net for just his fifth start of the season and second in the Champions League. It’s not like Luis Enrique had been deploying the 26-year-old Russian international as a Cup goalkeeper this season, so this is an odd selection.

Additionally, Bradley Barcola starts on the wing opposite Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, while last year’s UCL final hero Desire Doue is on the bench. That’s a surprise, as the PSG boss had deployed Barcola on the weekend, so it seemed natural that they would swap for the midweek game.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: The Newcastle lineup is in! Dan Burn makes his first start back from injury, getting the nod at right-back with Kieran Trippier on the bench, while Anthony Elanga starts up front.

It looks to be a 4-4-2 from Eddie Howe, who installs Joe Willock into midfield and sits both Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes on the bench, although Jacob Ramsey may drift out wide left as a winger opposite Anthony Elanga on the right.

Bruno Guimaraes is available for selection but is only fit enough for a spot amongst the substitutes.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: The last time these two teams met was twice in the 2023/24 Champions League group stage.  Luis Enrique did not enjoy those matches, as PSG fell 4-1 at St. James’ Park before a 1-1 draw here at home.

The Spaniard had such a bad time on Tyneside three years ago, he has seemingly wiped the heavy defeat from his memory!

2 hours to kickoff: Welcome to coverage of the Champions League matchup between PSG anbd Newcastle from The Sporting News!

This match is the only meeting between top eight contenders on the final matchday of the league phase. With a whopping nine teams level on 13 points and all seeking a bye through to the Round of 16, there will be no room for error, and likely only one of these teams can finish the day with passage beyond the knockout playoff round.

MORE: A wider breakdown of all scenarios, permutations, and predictions for the final matchday of the league phase

PSG vs. Newcastle kick off time

This Champions League match kicks off from Parc des Princes on Wednesday, January 28 at 9 p.m. local time in Paris, France. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:

  Date Kickoff time
USA/Canada Wed, Jan. 28 3 p.m. ET
USA/Canada Wed, Jan. 28 12 p.m. PT
UK Wed, Jan. 28 8 p.m. GMT
Australia Thu, Jan. 29 7 a.m. AEDT
India Thu, Jan. 29 1:30 a.m. IST

PSG vs. Newcastle lineups, team news

The only injury concern for PSG is to midfielder Fabian Ruiz who picked up a knee injury in the club’s last Champions League match against Sporting, and is likely to miss out today.

Ousmane Dembele, who has missed time through the first half of the season with a hamstring injury, is back now and ready to continue leading the front line, having come off the bench on the weekend to deliver an assist on Bradley Barcola‘s winning goal.

PSG projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Chevalier (GK) — Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes — Zaire-Emery, Neves, Vitinha — Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia

PSG subs: Chevalier (GK), M. James (GK), Zabarnyi, Beraldo, L. Hernandez, Mayulu, Doue, Mbaye, Ramos.

Newcastle have been hit hard in key areas by injuries in recent weeks, which is nothing new for Eddie Howe during his time at the club.

The defensive line has been under pressure for a while due to fitness issues, with Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, and Fabian Schar all out for a while. Dan Burn is back from his broken rib, but likely not yet ready to start after being an unused substitute on the weekend.

New to the trainer’s room are a pair of key midfielders, with Joelinton out for another few weeks due to a thigh injury while Bruno Guimaraes is a doubt after missing the defeat to Aston Villa last time out with a leg issue.

Newcastle starting lineup (4-4-2): Pope (GK) — Burn, Thiaw, Botman, Hall — Miley, Tonali, Willock, Ramsey — Elanga, Woltemade.

Newcastle subs: Ramsdale (GK), Trippier, Sharhar, A. Murphy, J. Murphy, Guimaraes, Barnes, Gordon, Wissa, Osula.

PSG vs. Newcastle live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions:

Region TV Streaming
USA — Paramount+
Canada — DAZN
UK TNT Sports 3 discovery+
Australia — Stan Sport
India Sony TEN 5 Sony LIV, JioTV
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