Newcastle United received a fresh reminder of their Champions League heartache on Tuesday night.
While Eddie Howe‘s players are resting and preparing for next week’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace, where Callum Wilson could make his return from injury, the Champions League quarter finals were taking place.
The Magpies were competing in UEFA’s top competition earlier this year, but were eliminated at the earliest opportunity. They came bottom of the group of death, finishing below Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.
And two of those teams were in action on Tuesday night.
Newcastle’s Champions League opponents enjoy a night to remember
It has now been confirmed that one of Newcastle United’s Champions League opponents will be in the final at the end of the season.
Borussia Dortmund and PSG have advanced to the semis, where they will face each other for a place in the final. Dortmund knocked out Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, while PSG came from behind to triumph over Barcelona.
Their wins served as a reminder of the quality Newcastle were up against, despite some outsiders claiming that the Magpies embarrassed themselves in Europe by coming last. They came bottom of the toughest group possible – there was no shame in that at the time, and there certainly is not now.
Dortmund and PSG’s progress can give Newcastle some vindication over their European performances, but it also serves as a nasty reminder of what could have been.
What TNT Sports tweeted about Newcastle after PSG advance
Following PSG’s win over Barcelona, the TNT Sports X account posted a message aimed at Newcastle United fans.
They posted two images from the Magpies’ 1-1 draw with PSG back in November, showcasing the alleged ‘handball’ that Tino Livramento committed in stoppage time.
A shocking VAR decision ruled that PSG should be awarded a penalty, with Kylian Mbappe scoring a late equaliser after Alexander Isak had put Newcastle in front.
It was a crushing end to game that Newcastle put so much into. The injury crisis was well underway, yet Howe’s side were seconds away from what would have been a deserved victory in Paris.
Instead, they were robbed by a disgraceful decision.
Alongside the pictures of Mbappe and Livramento, the TNT Sports X account wrote: “Reminder that if it wasn’t for this being given as a penalty, Newcastle would have done the double over PSG in the Champions League group stages and likely would have progressed instead of the French side.”
PSG should not be in the Champions League after what happened against Newcastle
Not only was the draw that PSG got against Newcastle heartbreaking, it was also decisive.
That point was effectively what kept PSG in the competition, and ended Newcastle’s European adventure early.
It was a shocking decision at the time, and it is even more painful knowing that Luis Enrique’s side are 180 minutes away from the final. Imagine if they win the whole thing…
Livramento was the player who was judged to have committed a handball, and he recently admitted that the decision made him feel terrible. He did nothing wrong, and it ruined what had been an incredible night for him.
It will be a painful memory for Livramento to look back on, and the same goes for Newcastle United fans, who will not appreciate TNT Sports’ Champions League message.
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