Borussia Dortmund secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, solidifying their position at the top of Group F with two matches remaining. Niclas Füllkrug opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a close-range strike, and Julian Brandt sealed the win with a breakaway goal in the 79th.
Borussia Dortmund’s German forward Niclas Fuellkrug celebrates scoring the opening goal against Newcastle United - Image credit: Getty Images
The win extended Dortmund’s unbeaten run in the Champions League to four matches and propelled them to seven points, two ahead of second-placed Newcastle. AC Milan, currently in third place with two points, will host Paris Saint-Germain later on Tuesday.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzić praised his team’s performance, emphasizing their determination to bounce back from their recent Bundesliga defeat to Bayern Munich. “It was very deserved with a great team performance,” Terzić stated. “We owed the fans something from Saturday.”
Newcastle coach Eddie Howe acknowledged the challenge his team faces but expressed confidence in their ability to advance. “We’ve got to try and win our last two games (in Paris and at home to Milan),” Howe said. “We weren’t far away tonight, that’s the thing to take away. At our very best, even with the number of players we have out, we’re good enough (to win here).”
The match was briefly interrupted in the second half when fans threw fake gold bars onto the pitch in protest against UEFA’s planned competition reforms. However, the incident did not disrupt the momentum of the game, and Dortmund maintained their control throughout.
The match marked an impressive Champions League debut for 20-year-old Tino Livramento, whose performance was a highlight for Newcastle.
Dortmund’s victory leaves them in a commanding position to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League. They will face AC Milan in their next match, while Newcastle will travel to Paris Saint-Germain.
