Newcastle United claimed a third straight Champions League victory as Dan Burn’s thunderous header set them on course for a commanding 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at St James’ Park on Wednesday night.
Burn opened the scoring with a superb first-half header before Joelinton sealed the result after the break, extending Newcastle’s run to five consecutive home wins in all competitions.
The victory provided welcome relief after Sunday’s disappointing 3-1 defeat at struggling West Ham, which left Eddie Howe’s side sitting 13th in the Premier League and facing mounting criticism.
While their domestic form has been inconsistent, Newcastle have impressed in Europe—winning three of their four Champions League group matches, their only loss coming against Barcelona in the opener. With trips to Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen still to come, the Magpies, currently sixth in the group stage standings, remain firmly in contention for a top-eight finish and automatic qualification for the last 16.
Howe will hope their European momentum can spark an upturn in league form when they travel to Brentford on Sunday.
Injury-hit Bilbao, who came into the tie reeling from a defeat to local rivals Real Sociedad, looked short of firepower in the absence of brothers Iñaki and Nico Williams.
Unai Gómez squandered an early opportunity for the visitors, heading Alex Berenguer’s corner straight at Nick Pope—an escape Newcastle quickly capitalized on.
Burn had promised beforehand that “everybody knows we will turn up” against Bilbao, and he duly delivered in the 11th minute. Meeting Kieran Trippier’s perfectly placed free-kick, the defender powered a curling header into the far corner from 10 yards—a finish even club legend Alan Shearer, watching on with a grin, would have admired.
Bilbao briefly threatened to equalize as Gómez struck the post after bursting through Newcastle’s shaky back line, before Adama Boiro rattled the woodwork with a fierce drive from distance.
At the other end, Nick Woltemade went close with a header that drifted wide from Harvey Barnes’ cross, while Newcastle suffered a setback just before halftime as Anthony Gordon limped off with a recurrence of a hip injury.
But the hosts quickly reasserted control after the interval. In the 49th minute, Barnes created space on the left and lifted a measured cross into the box, where Joelinton powered home a header for his first goal in nine matches.
Bilbao substitute Nico Serrano later tested Pope with a spectacular long-range strike, but the Newcastle keeper reacted sharply to maintain his clean sheet and secure a morale-boosting European triumph.
