Newcastle United Edges Closer to Champions League with 3-0 Win over Leicester

Newcastle United secures a 3-0 win over Leicester City, climbing into the Premier League top five and continuing their charge for a Champions League spot.

Newcastle United secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Leicester City, further solidifying their position in the Premier League top five. This win marks the fourth successive victory for the Magpies across all competitions, and they continue to mount a strong challenge for a coveted Champions League spot. Meanwhile, Leicester City's woes deepened, with the Foxes now facing an almost inevitable return to the Championship.

The match got off to a disastrous start for Leicester, as Newcastle scored within two minutes. A well-executed team move involving Joelinton, Harvey Barnes, and Tino Livramento ultimately led to Jacob Murphy scoring the opening goal. The visitors doubled their lead just nine minutes later, as Fabian Schar's powerful shot from inside his own half hit the crossbar, only for Murphy to tap in the rebound. The win has further cemented Newcastle's position as a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League, while Leicester's struggles continue to mount.

Leicester City's players were visibly shaken after conceding two goals within the first 15 minutes, and they struggled to mount a meaningful challenge against Newcastle United. The Magpies, on the other hand, continued to threaten throughout the first half, and their dominance was further emphasized with a third goal on 34 minutes. A swift counter-attack led to Joelinton's shot being parried by Mads Hermansen, and Harvey Barnes instinctively tapped the ball into an empty net.

The scoreline only added to Leicester's woes, as they continued to struggle to find the back of the net. The Foxes had gone 21 goals without scoring since their last goal, and their home league woes continued, with seven consecutive losses without a goal. The home fans were left hoping for a consolation goal, but it was not to be. Newcastle even had opportunities to extend their lead, with Dan Burn failing to direct his header on target from a corner. With a comfortable lead, Eddie Howe opted to rest key players, including Joelinton, Bruno Guimarães, and Alexander Isak, just after the hour mark.

Newcastle are up to fifth ⬆️#LEINEW pic.twitter.com/idYQM2P1XY

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 7, 2025

In an otherwise dismal evening for Leicester City, the only positive note came when manager Enzo Maresca's interim replacement, Craig Shakespeare, wasn't at the helm, and instead, Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge and handed 15-year-old Jeremy Monga his professional debut. Monga became the second-youngest player in Premier League history to make his debut, a rare bright spot in a dismal night for the Foxes.

As the match drew to a close, Newcastle United cruised through the final quarter hour without any trouble, with Nick Pope's goal remaining untouched. The win extended the Magpies' unbeaten head-to-head run against Leicester to six games, with five wins and one draw. The victory also left Leicester 15 points adrift of safety, further exacerbating their relegation woes.

Where are your team? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Kr2aEiZYmg

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 7, 2025