Felix Nmecha gave Borussia Dortmund a potentially crucial 1-0 Champions League win over Newcastle United.
Back at St James' Park after their raucous 4-1 thrashing of Paris Saint-Germain on matchday two, Eddie Howe's side were indebted to goalkeeper Nick Pope for a remarkable double save to deny Donyell Malen and Niclas Fullkrug.
Anthony Gordon also went close during a frantic opening where the Premier League side lost striker Alexander Isak to injury.
Experienced Dortmund captain Emre Can also limped out of the action but was cheered by Nmecha's fine finish on the stroke of the interval.
The midfielder dispatched Nico Schlotterbeck's cutback first time to crown a slick counter-attack and score his first goal for the club.
Newcastle vs Borussia Dortmund final score
| Fulltime | Goalscorers | |
| NEW | 0 | |
| BVB | 1 | Nmecha '45 |
Lineups:
Newcastle (formation 4-3-3, right to left): 22. Nick Pope (GK) — 2. Kieran Trippier, 6. Jamaal Lascelles, 5. Fabian Schar, 33. Dan Burn (13. Matt Targett) — 36. Sean Longstaff (8. Sandro Tonali), 39. Bruno Guimaraes, 7. Joelinton (23. Jacob Murphy) (28. Joe Willock) — 24. Miguel Almiron, 14. Alexander Isak (9. Callum Wilson), 10. Anthony Gordon
Dortmund (formation 4-3-3, right to left): 1. Gregor Kobel — Marius Wolf, 15. Mats Hummels, 4. Nico Schlotterbeck, 5. Ramy Bensebaini — 20. Marcel Sabitzer, 23. Emre Can (6. Salih Ozcan), 8. Felix Nmecha (25. Niklas Sule) — 21. Donyell Malen (7. Gio Reyna), 14. Niclas Fullkrug (9. Sebastien Haller), 11. Marco Reus (27. Karim Adeyemi).
MORE: The top goalscorers in this season's UEFA Champions League
Having gone blow-for-blow with Newcastle in a high-octane affair before the break, Dortmund showed considerable European street smarts to close out their first win of the campaign.
Isak's replacement Callum Wilson came closest to finding an equaliser, first when he was denied by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel at close quarters before glancing a late free-kick from fellow substitute Matt Targett against the crossbar.
There was more drama at the death as Gordon's deflected shot spun against the underside of the bar and stayed out, meaning the Premier League's top scorers had failed to find the net at home for the first time this season.
MORE: The top goalscorers in this season's UEFA Champions League
Newcastle vs Borussia Dortmund as it happened, highlights, and commentary
Fulltime: Almiron blooters a 30-yarder into the Gallowgate End and that is that. Dortmund have reignited their European campaign and replace Newcastle in second place behind PSG in Group F. Eddie Howe's men get to acquaint themselves with the harsh realities of this cut-throat competition. They laboured at times during the second half, but you can't get much closer to equalising than hitting the crossbar twice. This group feels like it's going to go to the wire and be utterly compelling in doing so. Thanks for joining us!
90th minute+4: Another corner. Nick Pope comes up! Back he goes as it's cleared. Well, half-cleared as the ball is worked back towards he box and Gordon's deflected shot hits the underside of the crossbar! Holy smokes!
Available in the UK
Newcastle were so close to a last minute equaliser 😲#UCL pic.twitter.com/4kKG1mpHFp
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 25, 2023
90th minute+1: Into four minutes of stoppage time and Trippier pings a devilish free-kick into the goalmouth. Kobel takes no chances and slaps it clear.
86th minute: Wilson hits the crossbar! The fight appeared to be leaving Newcastle but Targett sends in a fine free-kick from the left and Wilson glances against the furniture. Kobel was rooted to the spot.
82nd minute: Chance for Dortmund on the break as Wolf raids forward from full-back. Haller can't get the ball out of his feet and is then crowded out. A textbook example of a substitute not really being up to the speed of the game.
78th minute: Triple change for Dortmund, with Reyna, Haller and Sule into the action. The hulking Sule can expect to get through a fair bit of defensive work as Newcastle plan their final assault. Fullkrug, Malen and the goalscorer Nmecha come off.
70th minute: Oh dear, it looks like Murphy might have injured his shoulder. On comes Targett at left-back for Burn, with Willock also into the fray for the first time this season to replace his unfortunately fellow substitute..
66th minute: Tonali straight into the action and looking for Wilson with a through ball. Hummels, who has rolled back the years tonight, closes the door.
65th minute: Sandro Tonali is on for Newcastle. Might this be the last time we see him in a while? Jacob Murphy is also into the fray, with Longstaff and Joelinton making way.
62nd minute: Trippier swings a corner into the goalmouth but the referee has spotted a Newcastle foul. Karim Adeyemi is coming on for Reus. The sort of pace on the counter that the hosts don't really need to see as they chase the game.
57th minute: Should be 1-1!!!! Schar gets Newcastle moving with an excellent challenge. They shift it forward quickly and Wilson can shoot eight yards from goal. Kobel saves brilliantly but should he really have had a chance?
55th minute: Newcastle have been pretty ragged since the break. Guimaraes misjudges a ball out to the left and another attack breaks down.
50th minute: PSG now 2-0 up against Milan. That makes holding onto this lead feel even more important for Dortmund.
46th minute: We're back underway. The weather is still filthy and there are no further changes for either side.
Halftime: Newcastle had to see off a couple of corners as Dortmund sought to turn the screw during stoppage time and Edin Terzic's men are good value for their lead. The hosts will attack the Gallowgate End in the second half. Hold onto your hats!
45th minute: GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Felix Nmecha!!!
Control? What control? Dortmund break with scintillating precision after Schlotterbeck makes a brilliant tackle to dispossess Gordon around halfway. The defender gets on his bike to join the attack and cuts the ball across for former Manchester City youngster Nmecha to open his body and send a fine right-footed finish beyond Pope.
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Felix Nmecha with a delicious finish!
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 25, 2023
His first goal since signing for Dortmund in the summer. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/zhL0UkDfdC
Available in the UK
Dortmund take the lead at St James Park thanks to a clinical finish from Felix Nmecha 💥#UCL pic.twitter.com/izQ0buPf84
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 25, 2023
44th minute: Almiron hangs a cross up for Wilson that Wolf does very well to defend. Over the past 10 minutes or so, Newcastle have located the control that was entirely absent from the first half hour of the contest.
42nd minute: Can has decided enough is enough. On comes Ozcan.
41st minute: Can is going to try and run this off. At the moment he's moving like a fatigued distance walker. Trippier's cross towards Joelinton is cleared by Hummels. Burn wallops one from 25 yards that only troubles those high behind the goal.
38th minute: Emre Can has been down for extended treatment and he's being helped off by the Dortmund medical staff. That does not look good. Salih Ozcan will come on.
35th minute: Wolf huffs and puffs and brings Almiron down. That's a yellow card and a free-kick about 35 yards from goal. It comes to nought.
34th minute: Kylian Mbappe has put PSG 1-0 up against Milan in the other game in this group. That would put the Ligue 1 giants top of things stay as they are. However, you'd be a brave person/raving moron to bet on this one remaining 0-0.
30th minute: Newcastle enjoy a more authoritative spell with a couple of corners. Wolf heads the second from Trippier clear and the attack peters out.
26th minute: Fullkrug spins to find some space in a tight spot and works the ball to Malen, who again finds black and white bodies in the way of his shot.
22nd minute: Guimaraes floats a dreamy return pass in Almiron's direction. The Paraguay star opts to take if first time and makes a mess of an attempted ball across the face of goal.
20th minute: Almiron goes down in the Dortmund box and fancies a penalty as he charges past Schlotterbeck and goes down. The referee isn't interested. Edin Terzic's side break with lethal intent again and win a corner that Joelinton clears.
19th minute: Sabitzer picks his pass into the box and Newcastle need Burn to block from Malen.
15th minute: Isak's race is run, on comes Wilson.
14th minute: Reus's out-swinging corner is cleared. He gets it back and finds Malen, who strikes one sweetly from 25 yards. It's just over, but the Dutch winger in particular and Dortmund overall have started this one very well.
13th minute: A breathless start has been punctuated by Isak going down for treatment. The physio is on flexing his right knee. This would be a huge blow for Newcastle, even though they have an able deputy warming up in Callum Wilson.
11th minute: Kobel's turn to be the hero! Isak is on the charge, and gets held up by Can but here comes Gordon charging around the outside. The ex-Everton youngster looks into the whites of the Dortmund keeper's eyes but blasts too close to him.
10th minute: Incredible double save from Nick Pope! Malen is on hand to meet a Sabitzer cutback first time and the England goalkeeper reacts well to keep it out. His reaction to Fullkrug's attempt to snaffle the rebound is outstanding.
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WHAT A DOUBLE SAVE BY NICK POPE! 😲🧱#UCL pic.twitter.com/xgbaP01JUa
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 25, 2023
7th minute: Trippier booms an inswinger right under the crossbar and Kobel takes no chances with a meaty punch clear.
6th minute: Trippier's cross is half-cleared by Hummels. Almiron finds Gordon to win a corner off visiting captain Can.
2nd minute: Changes at both ends! First Malen springs the Newcastle offside trap on the end of a sublime Wolf pass. Pope saves sharply with his feet, the host spring up the other end and Gordon cuts inside to fire goalwards.
1st minute: Bensebaini, starting ahead of the absent Julian Ryerson, introduced himself to Almiron with a scything challenge to give away a free-kick in the centre circle.
3 mins prior to kickoff: The teams are out. St James' Park is rocking.
20 mins prior to kickoff: There's a real emphasis on Fullkrug and his fellow forwards to find their shooting boots tonight. Dortmund have had 14 more attempts on goal than Newcastle in this season's Champions League (32-18) but are yet to score. They've failed to find the net in their past three games in the competition overall and have never drawn four consecutive Champions League blanks. You could say Edin Terzic's side are due.
40 mins prior to kickoff: Newcastle are top of the standing with four points from two games, one ahead of PSG. Milan have drawn both their matches so far, with Dortmund bringing up the rear on a solitary Group F point. You can follow the other game between PSG and Milan tonight right HERE.
1 hour prior to kickoff: Here's the Dortmund XI. Marcel Sabitzer returned as a substitute at the weekend and the Austria international is back in the starting line-up. But there's no Julian Brandt as he's not recovered from the a muscular complaint sustained in the same match against Werder Bremen.
🚨 BVB STARTING XI VS. NEWCASTLE 🚨 pic.twitter.com/lOM1vBMLcp
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) October 25, 2023
1 hr 10 mins prior to kickoff: Newcastle line up pretty much as expected. Willock does make the bench, where he's alongside Tonali.
HOWAY NEWCASTLE! 👊#NEWBVB // #UCL pic.twitter.com/iszSsKhtaw
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 25, 2023
1 hr 30 mins prior to kickoff: This time two years ago, Newcastle were bottom of the Premier League and still waiting for their first win of the season. Even allowing for the considerable assistance of investment from their Saudi owners, it's been a remarkable rise.
"Even sat here doing a press conference before a Champions League game seemed impossible," midfielder Sean Longstaff told reporters yesterday, having got on the scoresheet against PSG.
"To be in this position now is a real privilege. It's a competition I've watched since I was a little kid, to finally be playing in it is something I am trying to take in my stride."
1 hr 50 mins prior to kickoff: As you'll have read in our team news section below, Joe Willock was expected to remain among Newcastle's injury absentees. Well, he returned to training yesterday having been sidelined all season by a hamstring injury and the former Arsenal midfielder has now arrived at St James' Park in his tracksuit. A place on the bench, perhaps?
Evening, @Joewillock! 👋 pic.twitter.com/gRh9mgBjjy
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 25, 2023
2 hours prior to kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Newcastle United vs. Borussia Dortmund.
⚫️⚪️🆚🟡⚫️
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 25, 2023
Let’s go! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/GpeK2jxx0B
MORE: Sandro Tonali, Nicolo Zaniolo betting investigation: Will Premier League duo face football ban?
Newcastle vs Borussia Dortmund lineups, team news
Eddie Howe is still without key defender Sven Botman, with Harvey Barnes a long-term absentee.
Sandro Tonali is available to play despite reports that a lengthy ban for the Italy international's alleged involvement in illegal betting in his homeland is imminent. He's on the bench alongside Joe Willock, who is hoping to make a first appearance of the season following a hamstring injury.
Newcastle lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Pope (GK) — Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Burn — Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton — Almiron, Isak, Gordon
Youssoufa Moukoko (thigh) will miss out for Dortmund, meaning a likely start for Germany international Niclas Fullkrug at centre-forward.
Full-back Julian Ryerson has remained in Germany due to illness. Midfielder Marcel Sabitzer returned from an adductor problem with a substitute appearance against Werder Bremen and is back in the starting lineup, but Julian Brandt is out due to a muscular problem sustained in the same match.
Dortmund lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Kobel — Wolf, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini — Sabitzer, Can — Nmecha, Reus, Malen — Fullkrug.
Newcastle vs Borussia Dortmund live stream, TV channel
The Newcastle vs. Borussia Dortmund match in the Champions League kicks off at 8:00 p.m. local time from St James' Park, Newcastle.
Below are the corresponding times, TV channels, and live streams to watch the match in regions around the world
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | — | Paramount+, ViX |
| Canada | — | |
| UK | TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports Ultimate | discovery+ |
| Australia | — | Stan Sport |
| India | Sony Ten | Sony LIV, JioTV |
| Hong Kong | beIN Sports 4 | beIN Sports Connect |
| Malaysia | — | beIN Sports Connect |
| Singapore | — | beIN Sports Connect |
| New Zealand | — | beIN Sports Connect |
UK: This match will be available for live broadcast and streaming via TNT Sports and discovery+.
USA: This game is available to stream on Paramount+, with ViX providing coverage in Spanish.
Canada: Every Champions League game this season is live streaming exclusively via DAZN in Canada.
MORE: Watch this Champions League match in the United States on Paramount+
