Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea: Magpies climb to third in Premier League top-five race as Blues’ hopes dwindle | OneFootball

Chelsea‘s bid to reach next season’s Champions League hit a snag as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Premier League top-five rivals Newcastle this afternoon.

Consequently, the Magpies’ own chances of dining at European football’s highest table increased with two matches remaining.

Eddie Howe’s men netted at extreme points in the game, with Sandro Tonali’s opener coming after 1 minute and 52 seconds, while Bruno Guimarães ensured all three points in the first minute of stoppage time.

It was Guimaraes’ fourth from outside the box in the Premier League for Newcastle, his first since February 2024 (v Nottingham Forest), and his first at St. James’ Park since October 2022 (v Brentford).

The visitors’ task was made all the more arduous when centre-forward Nicolas Jackson saw red in the 35th minute. It was his first Premier League red card in his 65th game in the competition, and Jackson’s first in the league overall since April 2023, for Villarreal against Real Sociedad.

But after managing zero shots on target in the first half, all three of Chelsea’s attempts in the second period were on target.

Having started the weekend in fourth, Newcastle were buoyed following Manchester City’s goalless draw at Southampton, meaning the door was open to leapfrog Pep Guardiola’s dethroned champions into third, which they have now done.

Chelsea, though, remain in fifth, level on points with Aston Villa (sixth) and two ahead of Nottingham Forest, who kicked off as soon as this game was over.

On the week Enzo Maresca’s side booked a place in the Conference League final, thus presenting the west London club an opportunity to make European football history, their six-game Premier League unbeaten streak (including winning the last three on the bounce) came to a resounding stop.

Tonali’s opener was Newcastle’s earliest ever goal against Chelsea in the Premier League. The Italian midfielder has now scored three goals in his last eight Premier League appearances, more than he managed in his first 34 in the competition (2).

Four of his five Premier League goals have come at St. James’ Park; all four goals at that ground have given Newcastle the lead. Jacob Murphy created the goal, his 12th assist in the Premier League this season; the most by a Newcastle player in a single campaign in the competition since Nolberto Solano in 1999–00 (15).

Blues supporters were right to be wary about today’s game as Chelsea have lost 15 of their 30 Premier League games at St. James’ Park, only losing more at one other away ground in the competition (17 at Anfield).

Their next away trip will be at Forest, which may very well have Champions League participation ramifications. But, having said that, Chelsea have lost six of their last nine away games in the Premier League (W1 D2). Indeed, since Christmas Day, only Leicester City (before their visit to Nottingham Forest later today) and Southampton (both 4) have picked up fewer away points in the competition than Enzo Maresca’s side (5).

Things could not be rosier for Newcastle, who picked up their 20th Premier League win of the season. This is the first time they have won 20 or more games in a single season in the competition since 2002–03 (21), which was the last time they finished in the top three of the division.

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