Can one momentous away win lead to a truly historic one for Newcastle United? Eddie Howe certainly believes so, given how divergent this victory feels from almost the entirety of their Premier League away campaign to date.
“On so many levels, that was such an important victory with what we have coming up this week; two massive games,” Howe declared, having just overseen Newcastle’s second-ever Premier League triumph at Stamford Bridge. It was also merely their fourth win in 15 top-flight matches on their travels across 2025-26. “We needed to win to give us any chance of winning in Barcelona and progressing in the Champions League.”
It was not just the fact Newcastle left west London with three points that was so refreshing. The performance, defensive resilience and energy they showed on the counter-attack was far more reminiscent of Newcastle in previous seasons under Howe.
Offensively, this was not vintage stuff. Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior dismissed Newcastle as offering “nothing in the game but we gave them a goal”. While that felt disrespectful, Newcastle did only have seven shots to Chelsea’s 22. The difference was Newcastle were efficient in attack and their expected goals (xG) return of 1.42 was merely 0.01 less than the home side’s.
But even if much of Newcastle’s best work was done without the ball, that should not be seen as a negative. This was the archetypal away performance; precisely the sort of cohesive, disciplined display they have failed to show for much of this season.
For only the second time in 12 Premier League away matches, Newcastle kept a clean sheet. The other came during a dire goalless draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers in January. In all competitions, Newcastle had kept only three shutouts in their previous 32 and none in 14. There had been two in 22 in the Premier League since October 5.
Eddie Howe celebrates with his players and staff (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Far too often, Newcastle have found ways to concede goals even when the opposition have barely created chances. There have been errors, lapses in concentration and bad luck; even Barcelona profited from a 95th-minute penalty award at St James’ Park on Tuesday.
But against Chelsea, they would not relent. Admittedly, Rosenior’s team lacked incision and speed in their play. Even when Newcastle riskily went to a back five in the 77th minute following the introduction of Dan Burn — they have shipped late goals when doing so previously, including at home to Arsenal in September — they remained solid.
Malick Thiaw was superb. The German has started 44 of the last 45 games in all competitions, including an unbroken 38-game spell between September and February, and is continuing to impress, despite fasting throughout Ramadan.
In attack, while Newcastle rarely tested Robert Sanchez, they showed in transition they can ruthlessly exploit space in behind with their pace. Joe Willock burst through a woeful Chelsea offside trap, played in superbly by Tino Livramento, to lay on Anthony Gordon for the winner. During the build-up, 10 of Newcastle’s 11 players were involved, with only Nick Woltemade, once again deployed as a No 8, failing to touch the ball.
Barcelona play a notoriously high line and Newcastle showed they could get in behind on Tyneside. Their best — and probably only — route to victory at Camp Nou is through the speed of Anthony Elanga, Harvey Barnes and Gordon.
The latter was excellent at Stamford Bridge, having missed the Barcelona first leg through illness, tirelessly leading the press and carrying Newcastle upfield.
He hit back at suggestions from pundits that he had declared himself unfit to play against Barcelona, insisting he “didn’t like the manager’s decision” to leave him on the bench having turned up “ready to start”. He told BBC Match of the Day: “I didn’t see the stuff but it was complete nonsense. I think they (pundits) need to do better at what they’re doing.”
Although Sandro Tonali’s absence on Saturday due to illness was a minor concern, the Italian is expected to be available for Wednesday. Joelinton will return to the engine room, too, and Jacob Ramsey will be restored to a No 8 role, having performed well during his first outing as a single-pivot No 6 in west London.
Chelsea’s shortcomings will be scrutinised, but Newcastle can take great belief from how they dogged out this win at a ground where they have an appalling record.
Anthony Gordon scores the winner (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
After 11 successive Premier League away games without overcoming a side in the top half stretching back to February 2025 — with eight defeats and three draws — Newcastle finally defeated one. While their previous victories on their travels had been at Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton, Newcastle downed the reigning Club World Cup champions on their own territory.
Critically, it was against the side who presently occupy fifth place, and Newcastle have closed the gap to that final Champions League spot to six points. With only eight games remaining, that is still a sizeable gap, but Newcastle are up to ninth and European qualification no longer feels like a long shot.
Having recorded back-to-back Premier League wins for only the third time this season, it feels like momentum may be starting to build. The problem has been that such bursts have previously been punctuated by the volume of matches Newcastle have played in other competitions.
That cannot afford to happen this time around.
The second of those “massive matches” Howe referenced is the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland on Sunday. Newcastle will also go into that must-win assignment — given the defeat, and more importantly its manner, on Wearside in December — above their local rivals.
Before then, however, they must navigate Camp Nou, where Barcelona have been imperious. The Catalans have won 16 of 17 Champions League and La Liga matches, drawing the other, scoring 54 goals and conceding 11.
“It’s such a difficult game, but you need that confidence that winning gives you,” Howe said. “We’ll be in a better place for this.”
Newcastle have all the characteristics necessary to carry out the improbable at Camp Nou. Now they need to go and deliver. Again.