Newcastle certified for the Champions League for the primary time in 20 years after a 0-0 draw towards relegation-haunted Leicester on Tuesday.
Fifth positioned Liverpool’s draw with Aston Villa on Saturday meant Newcastle wanted only one level from their final two video games to be assured of a Champions League place.
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Eddie Howe’s third positioned aspect achieved their goal on the first try in entrance of jubilant St James’ Park crowd, guaranteeing their spectacular season climaxed with their long-awaited return to Europe’s elite membership competitors.
Howe and his gamers launched into a prolonged lap of honour after the ultimate whistle as they soaked up the acclaim from the Toon Army.
Newcastle’s exceptional rise from relegation candidates to a prime 4 end within the Premier League in simply 18 months is a tribute to Howe’s administration and monetary would possibly of the membership’s Saudi-backed possession group.
The Magpies additionally reached the primary home closing since 1999 this season, shedding to Manchester United within the League Cup.
After 20 years in Premier League purgatory since Bobby Robson final led Newcastle into the Champions League, the Magpies will consider they’ll preserve their transformation into trophy contenders now they’re again amongst Europe’s heavyweights.
Newcastle supervisor Eddie Howe roars in delight. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP)Source: AFP
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Just seven years after their fairytale Premier League title triumph, Leicester are on the verge of being relegated from the top-flight for the twelfth time of their historical past.
That would equal the English report held by Birmingham, sending them again to the Championship for the primary time since 2014.
Dean Smith’s third from backside group have received simply considered one of their final 15 league video games.
They sit two factors behind fourth backside Everton and can go down if the Toffees win their final recreation towards Bournemouth, no matter Leicester’s end result of their closing match towards West Ham.
Leicester’s decline has been precipitous since profitable the FA Cup for the primary time in 2021, a marketing campaign through which they completed fifth within the Premier League for a second successive season.
Smith sprang a significant shock as he left James Maddison and Harvey Barnes on the bench in a bid to be “more durable to beat”, whereas Newcastle misplaced Joelinton to an harm suffered within the pre-match warm-up.
They practically needed to do with out Joelinton’s fellow Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes in addition to the midfielder escaped with an early yellow card after a studs-up problem that smashed into Boubakary Soumare’s thigh.
Newcastle held 80 p.c of the possession all through the sport, however Leicester sat deep to frustrate them.
Newcastle’s stars absorb the scenes at St James’ Park. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP)Source: AFP
Leicester keeper Daniel Iversen nearly gifted Newcastle the opening aim, spilling a catch underneath strain from Dan Burn.
Callum Wilson seized on the free ball and shot towards the submit earlier than his header from the rebound was cleared off the road by Wilfred Ndidi.
Newcastle hit the woodwork once more moments later by way of Miguel Almiron’s half-volley from Fabian Schar’s knock down.
Iversen misjudged one other cross simply earlier than half-time, leaving Wilson with an opportunity that the striker headed over from close-range.
Smith despatched on Maddison on the interval and Iversen partially redeemed himself with an excellent save to tip over Alexander Isak’s highly effective drive from the sting of the realm.
Barnes was subsequent to return on for Leicester, with the nameless Jamie Vardy carrying a livid expression as he trudged off.
Guimaraes missed a sitter when he headed towards the submit from just about on the goal-line after Leicester’s Wout Faes accidently flicked a nook in his route.
Leicester practically received it with their first shot of proceedings when Nick Pope denied Timothy Castagne in stoppage-time, however Newcastle held on to clinch their return to Europe’s prime desk.
