da spicy bet： The Frenchman didn't register a single shot on target as the Parisians crumbled at St. James' Park
da pinup bet： Kylian Mbappe was a peripheral figure, and the rest of his Paris Saint-Germain team-mates did little to contribute, as the Parisians lost 4-1 to a rampant Newcastle side in their second Champions League group-stage fixture. The Frenchman never got on the ball in the right areas, while a trio of defensive breakdowns handed the Magpies easy goals as the other end, as PSG's mixed start to life under new manager Luis Enrique continued.
Newcastle applied pressure early, and were good value for their opener. Marquinhos gave the ball away in his defensive third, and Eddie Howe's side pounced. Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Alexander Isak's initial effort, but Miguel Almiron latched onto the rebound and found the bottom corner.
They made it two shortly before half-time, with Dan Burn rising above Milan Skriniar to nod home at the far post after a hectic scramble in the box. Their third came after the break, provided by academy graduate Sean Longstaff. The midfielder scampered into the right channel untracked, and fired low to Donnarumma's right — the Italian failing to keep it out despite getting a hand on it.
PSG stayed alive, and it started with Warren Zaire-Emery, who dinked a delightful ball over the Newcastle defence, which Lucas Hernandez headed into the corner. They created further opportunities, Ousmane Dembele twice missing after bursting into the box, but they could never get their main man Mbappe involved, and looked short of ideas until a belter from Fabian Schar put the game well beyond reach.
GOAL rates PSG's players from St. James' Park…
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence
Gianluigi Donnarumma (6/10):
Made an excellent stop to deny Isak, but could do nothing about Almiron's follow up. Can't be faulted for the second, either. Will feel he could have done better on the third after making contact. Finished with five saves.
Achraf Hakimi (5/10):
Managed the pace of Gordon reasonably well. Didn't offer too much going the other way.
Marquinhos (4/10):
Gave the ball away foolishly to gift Newcastle the opener. Never really got better from then on.
Milan Skriniar (5/10):
Burn simply jumped over him for the Magpies' second. Looks uncomfortable against pace.
Lucas Hernandez (5/10):
Almiron had a field day on his side of the pitch. Took his goal well, though.
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Manuel Ugarte (4/10):
Overrun in the middle of the park. Late into a few challenges, and never really had time to settle on the ball. Must have been relieved when substituted.
Warren Zaire-Emery (5/10):
Should have tracked Longstaff on Newcastle's third. Made up for it with a lovely assist to Hernandez. A young player who has a lot to learn.
Getty ImagesAttack
Ousmane Dembele (4/10):
Put a volley wide in the opening minutes. Had a few other decent chances, but couldn't find the net. His lack of quality in front of goal is concerning at times.
Goncalo Ramos (5/10):
Ran a lot, and got into some of the right areas on the break. Never really had the chance to make things happen.
Kylian Mbappe (5/10):
Barely touched the ball over the course of 90 minutes. He's not often nullified like this.
Randal Kolo Muani (3/10):
Rattled by the occasion early. Gave the ball away numerous times in the first half. Didn't last an hour.
Getty ImagesSubs & Manager
Bradley Barcola (4/10):
Brought on for an injection of pace and creativity — which he failed to offer.
Vitinha (6/10):
A bit more expansive from central midfield. Was probably introduced too late.
Luis Enrique (3/10):
Got his tactics remarkably wrong given the scenario. PSG should never have started with four attackers in such a high-energy encounter. Qualification won't be easy now.