UCL: Newcastle United Thrash Union Saint-Gilloise 4-0 in Champions League Opener

Newcastle United's dominant display secures first Champions League win

Newcastle United dominated Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, securing a 4-0 victory in the UEFA Champions League. This win marked their first league phase triumph of the season and their first-ever away success in the competition under manager Eddie Howe.

Gordon doubled Newcastle's advantage just before halftime with a penalty kick after Fedde Leysen's reckless tackle on Anthony Elanga...

Newcastle United dominated Union Saint-Gilloise, securing a 4-0 win in the UEFA Champions League. This victory marked their first league phase win of the season and their first-ever away success in the competition under Eddie Howe. Anthony Gordon shone bright, scoring twice from the penalty spot, while Nick Woltemade and Harvey Barnes added to the scoreline.

Newcastle faced an early scare in the Belgian capital when Kevin Rodríguez had a header sail over the bar from a corner kick. This moment seemed to galvanize the Toon, helping them settle down and focus.

As Newcastle overcame their initial jitters, Royale Union struggled to cope with their pressure. The Toon's early dominance paid off within the first 20 minutes. A beautifully weighted delivery from Anthony Elanga was only partially cleared by the Royale Union defense, falling perfectly for Sandro Tonali on the edge of the area. Tonali's volley was then smartly headed home by Nick Woltemade, scoring his first-ever UEFA Champions League goal.

The defending Belgian champions responded positively to falling behind, but they struggled to breach Nick Pope's goal. Adem Zorgane had two attempts blocked by the Newcastle goalkeeper in quick succession, showcasing Pope's sharp reflexes.

The hosts' fortunes took a turn for the worse just before halftime when Fedde Leysen's reckless tackle on Anthony Elanga inside the area resulted in a penalty. Anthony Gordon stepped up and confidently scored from the spot, sending the goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen the wrong way and doubling Newcastle's lead.

After halftime, Royale Union knew they needed to find a spark to get back into the game. They nearly found it within three minutes of the restart when Marc Giger delivered a precise pass to Anan Khalaili, who had made a run behind Dan Burn. However, Khalaili's effort curled just wide of the far post.

 

Big win for Newcastle in Brussels 💪#UCL pic.twitter.com/pEK4GN62Iy

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 1, 2025

The hosts had momentum, but it was short-lived. Fedde Leysen conceded another penalty, this time for handball in the area. Anthony Gordon stepped up again and scored his second penalty of the game, finding the bottom right corner despite the goalkeeper guessing the direction correctly.

In the dying stages of the match, Sébastien Pocognoli's team launched a desperate attack, throwing everything at Newcastle in an attempt to salvage a result. However, this approach ultimately backfired, leaving them vulnerable to a lightning-quick counterattack that Harvey Barnes capitalized on, scoring Newcastle's fourth goal.

After securing a comfortable 4-0 lead, Eddie Howe's men seemed to take their foot off the gas, possibly with their upcoming league match against Nottingham Forest on their minds. This complacency allowed them to coast to the win without further incident.

Delivering Anthony Elanga the #UCL Player of the Match award! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/HAwpHgMSeX

— Newcastle United (@NUFC) October 1, 2025

Upcoming Fixtures

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise's Next Challenge

Attention now turns to the Belgian Pro League, where Royale Union Saint-Gilloise faces a tough away match against second-place Club Brugge. This fixture will be a crucial test for RUSG as they look to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Upcoming Matches:

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise vs Club Brugge: October 5, 2025, 16:30 UTC

Newcastle United vs Nottingham Forest: Sunday (no specific time provided)

Match Statistics

Possession: Newcastle had 53% possession, while Union Saint-Gilloise had 47%.

Shots on Target: Newcastle had 6 shots on target, while Union Saint-Gilloise had none.

Yellow Cards: Newcastle had 1 yellow card, while Union Saint-Gilloise had 4.