3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Newcastle 2 Athletic Bilbao 0 | OneFootball

It ended Newcastle 2 Athletic Bilbao 0.

Ahead of each game we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the match.

An interesting game at St James’ Park…

Plenty to talk about after this one.

On this occasion it is David Punton:

POSITIVES

Euro mania

That’s three Champions League wins on the bounce. Can’t fault Eddie Howe in terms of the results.

He’s guided us to the same points tally as Real Madrid and PSG as we reach the halfway stage of the league phase.

We have a great chance to progress, albeit some tough tests lie ahead.

Europe has been a real tonic for us and I just sensed we’ve managed the tournament a lot better this time around.

There’s always a real buzz about games against continental opponents under the floodlights.

The Bilbao fans were absolutely brilliant too. Such a great vibe around the city all day.

Hands of friendship. Wish them well for the rest of the season.

Heads we win

It was a tale of two headers in a game that spent long periods on a bit of a knife edge.

That Dan Burn goal should be talked about for years. I’ve not seen a headed goal as good as that in a while.

It was even better than his header in the League Cup final.

To see a defender of his size ghosting in and firing home like that with his head was astonishing. It was one of those goals where time stood still for a moment and then it hit the back of the net.

Burn’s story is much loved in football and this superhuman from Blyth has plenty more in the tank just yet.

Joelinton’s header early in the second half was just as crucial and he needs to produce more of this.

Both him and Burn have come in for some criticism lately, so you’d have to say that they’ve responded really well.

After Joelinton scored there was a spell when he was sublime in midfield. He came to life.

Super Sandro

The best player on the park was Sandro Tonali.

In a first half when Bilbao had us pinned down, the Italian held the midfield together.

Calmness like that is priceless at this level.

He was asked about his future at the club after the game and he answered pretty well.

I’d hate to lose him. North of £100m for Sandro.

NEGATIVES

The Gordon puzzle

You have to wonder how fit Anthony Gordon was for this game.

Is that affecting his form?

He gave the ball away too much and then succumbed to what looked like a thigh problem.

He needs to find some form, with our support. It will happen, surely, but for now he looks set for a spell on the sidelines.

It’s frustrating.

He’s had some great games in Europe but it’s in the league we need to see more of.

Bread and butter

These European games really take it out of the players.

It was a tough shift. It can lead to leggy displays come the weekend.

Howe’s got to find a way through that.

I’d not swap European games for anything but we the league is the bread and butter.

Brentford have had their feet up all week while we toiled away. Sunday will be tough.

Slumbering

Athletic Club pressed us really well in the first half. It was hard going. They seemed to outnumber us at times.

For all that the second half was great, that opening 45 minutes was a slog, bar the header from Burn.

To be ultra negative, they were missing Nico and Inaki Williams. That was fortunate from our point of view.

Newcastle 2 Athletic Bilbao 0 – Wednesday 5 November 2025 8pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Burn 11, Joelinton 49

Bilbao:

Possession was Newcastle 58% Bilbao 42%

Total shots were Newcastle 8 Bilbao 12

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Bilbao 5

Corners were Newcastle 2 Bilbao 5

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 20 Bilbao 16

Newcastle team v Athletic Bilbao:

Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn (Hall 65), Bruno (Miley 66), Joelinton, Tonali, Gordon (Jacob Murphy 41), Woltemade (Ramsey 83), Barnes (Elanga 66)