As Newcastle United clinched their first Champions League spot in decades, the team was determined to prove that this achievement was not a fluke. Three months into the 2023-24 season, it’s evident that the team has the ability to stay in contention for another year, largely due to their impressive attacking performances.
After 11 Premier League games, the Magpies rank second only to Manchester City in several attacking statistics, including goals (27), expected goals (23.11), and shots on goal (66). This is a result of their notable efficiency in front of goal, as they are 10th in the league for shots with 149, well short of the league leaders Liverpool with 200. However, Newcastle leads the Premier League in shot on target percentage at 44.3%, surpassing City’s 42.6%.
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This trend is reflected in their top scorers in the league this season, Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson. Both have scored a third of their shots — Isak has six goals from 18 shots and Wilson has seven from 21, showcasing the overall efficiency of the team in attack. Wilson ranks second in the league for shots on target percentage (71.4%) among those with five or more goals, while Isak is third (61.1%).
However, there is concern for Howe and the team as they have slightly outperformed their expected goals, a pattern that has continued into their Champions League campaign. They have four goals from 2.3 expected goals and rank 31st in group stage play in the latter category. All of their goals came in a remarkable 4-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain, despite having an expected goals tally of just 0.94.
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Their performance in attack over the course of three Champions League games has been lackluster, with two games resulting in no goals. They have had 30 shots, averaging about three shots fewer than in the Premier League, and their shot on target percentage has dropped to 40% from the 44.3% they boast in domestic play.
Based on the sample sizes, it is worth arguing that Newcastle’s Premier League showing is a truer reflection of themselves, which is likely to show up in some capacity during Champions League action. As they continue in the highly competitive Group F, where four points separate the top spot from last place, they are running out of time to correct this. Ahead of a crucial game against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, the question remains: Which Newcastle will show up?
How To Watch
- When: Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 12:45 p.m. ET
- Where: SIGNAL IDUNA PARK
- Online Streaming: Paramount+
- Follow: CBS Sports App
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