Eddie Howe makes fresh PSR statement as Newcastle United handed shock Champions League prediction

Newcastle United’s win over PSV Eindhoven secured their passage to the knockout round of the Champions League.

Eddie Howe’s side triumphed 3-0 at St James’ Park courtesy of goals from Yoane Wissa, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes. That win ensured that the Magpies will head to Paris next week in control of their own Champions League destiny knowing that a win, however unlikely against the reigning European champions, will see them finish in the top-eight of the league phase.

For now, though, Howe and his players can celebrate doing something that no other Newcastle United team has ever done - qualifying for the knockout rounds of the Champions League. The final in Budapest at the end of May seems a long way off right now, but they have cleared the first hurdle towards that and have guaranteed themselves a prize money boost.

Asked post-match what qualifying for the knockout rounds means for the club, Howe responded by focussing on the financial aspect and boost that progression will guarantee them: “I think there's a financial implication there, so yes of course we always talk about income and PSR and trying to generate more revenue, so the more successful we can be as a team, the more we're going to help that. So we're aware there's a direct correlation there.

“I never think financially, when trying to help the team progress in every way, it's always about trying to win, just trying to achieve, trying to hunt for trophies. That's always in the forefront of my mind, so the financial side is a nice by-product of it.”

OPTA predicts Champions League final league phase table

Every team in this season’s Champions League have now played seven of their eight league phase games ahead of Wednesday night’s final showdown. 18 matches will be played simultaneously across the continent with no one guaranteed of their final finishing position.

Arsenal, at the top of the table, know that a point would ensure they finish in first place, whilst anything other than a defeat and a five-goal swing involving Bayern Munich would also see the Gunners top the table.

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Those two clubs are the only sides to have guaranteed their progression to the Round of 16. Newcastle United, meanwhile, did their goal difference a world of good on Wednesday night and sit amongst a group of eight clubs currently on 13 points.

PSG, the side they face on Wednesday night in Paris, sit above them by virtue of only goals scored following their defeat to Sporting CP on Tuesday. The stats experts at OPTA believe the Magpies will finish 13th in the league phase table, six places below their current position of 7th. They have also given Howe’s side just a 24% chance of qualifying for the Round of 16.

Newcastle United, memorably, defeated PSG 4-1 at St James’ Park during their last Champions League campaign and were robbed of a famous victory at the Parc des Princes by a very controversial late penalty - one that was converted by Kylian Mbappe.

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