Nick Pope gets Newcastle a point vs AC Milan in Champions League return

The Magpies played like a team looking for a point and will leave with one, so Eddie Howe can’t be upset with the draw.

AC Milan, however, will feel they’ve wasted a chance to get three points in a brutal group, especially with the chance to be above PSG and/or Borussia Dortmund after one match day.

Milan did everything but score, out-attempting the visitors 25-6 and having 3-4 very dangerous chances. Nick Pope finished with eight saves while Newcastle failed to put a single shot on target until Sean Longstaff’s effort in stoppage time.

The Magpies saw a first-half possession advantage dwindle to 47% by the final whistle and will hope for much better against — checks notes — Paris Saint-Germain at St. James’ Park in two weeks time.

Mike Maignan comes off through injury, as Milan has to make a goalkeeping change with 10 minutes to play at the San Siro.

Longtime Atalanta man Marco Sportiello comes into the game. Maignan was not required to make a save but had four recoveries amongst his 45 touches.

One more change each here before a bonafide chance for Rafael Leao.

USMNT mid Yunus Musah comes in for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, while Newcastle also makes a midfield move as Sandro Tonali exits in favor of young Elliot Anderson.

Now Florenzi sends a cross into the mix and a leaping Leao flashes a header over the goal. Still 0-0.

A little rotation for AC Milan brings in USMNT star Christian Pulisic and Dutch midfielder Tijani Reijnders. Samu Chukwueze and Tommaso Pobega exit.

Pulisic has two goals in four Serie A games for Milan since coming over from Chelsea this summer.

Newcastle takes off Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy, with Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron entering the fray. That moves Alexander Isak to a wing role with Wilson central.

Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan flies off his line to parry a Jacob Murphy cross as Newcastle is now finding just a bit of danger.

The halftime break was kind to the Magpies, who have found their feet a little bit. This match suddenly feels closer to even.

But now Chukwueze is dropped by Tonali and AC Milan will have a free kick from the right.

It’s Milan who makes a change at the break.

This one’s probably down to Davide Calabria’s yellow card before the break, and Alessandro Florenzi will take his place at right back.

Newcastle will keep fighting with the same group.

0-0.

Eddie Howe will hope halftime — and maybe some changes — will give his Champions League new boys the chance to calm down and get into the game.

The Magpies have been out-attempted 15-2 despite 55% possession, and the xG reads 1.59-0.12 in favor of the hosts.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has four shot attempts for Milan, and Tomasso Pobega three. Nick Pope has six saves, and it’s still 0-0.

Milan is producing all of the danger at the San Siro, and Newcastle will be grateful if it can get to the team rooms level.

Milan took the match’s first 15 attempts before Anthony Gordon had a quarter-chance blocked in the 38th minute.

Nick Pope has six saves.

0-0, 39'

Newcastle’s been very sloppy with the ball, and wastes a free kick. The Magpies get the ball back and Jacob Murphy finds Sean Longstaff in the box and the local hero hits the deck. No call, and VAR won’t find much besides embellishment.

Milan breaks the other way, and a left-footed effort can’t be turned inside the front post by Olivier Giroud.

Still 0-0. Shot attempts now 10-0 to the hosts.

Pope’s had to make two more saves as Milan has earned a couple of corner kicks along the way.

Chukwueze looks dangerous on the right side while Ruben Loftus-Cheek has the second chance.

Milan’s attempted nine shots in the first 20 minutes of this game, while Newcastle has barely tasted the home side’s 18.

Nick Pope’s suddenly busy and is thrice asked to deny Milan.

First is Tommaso Pobega’s rip from distance. Pope has to dive to his right to make a save, and the ball is crossed back into danger.

Pope denies Samuel Chukwueze, and Milan’s soon back in the Newcastle end where the keeper has to stop Olivier Giroud’s in-tight effort.

It’s out for a corner, and more danger! But Newcastle gets the clearance.

There’s been a total of 0.01 xG between the sides, that coming from a speculative AC Milan ball, as both sides are fighting each other and the ball over the first 10 minutes.

Newcastle’s been whistled for three fouls while the hosts have committed one. Milan’s held 57% possession.

Eddie Howe’s side have had a slow start to the new Premier League season but they did grind out a 1-0 home win against Brentford on Saturday.

Plenty of key players were rested for that win as Isak, Almiron and Tonali (AC Milan’s player of the season last year before he switched to Newcastle this summer) could all start.

Callum Wilson was seen training on his own ahead of this game as Isak could start.

Newcastle will look to play their usual high tempo stay and also carry a threat on the counter. It will be intriguing to see how Howe gets on in his first-ever game managing in European competition.

Well, they were battered by Inter Milan 5-1 at the weekend and Pioli will want to see a reaction from his side.

Milan had started the season really well with new arrivals Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Yunus Musah, Samuel Chukwueze and Noah Okafor looking very good as Milan had won all three of their opening Serie A games before a true humbling at the hands of their city rivals.

After reaching the UEFA Champions League semifinals last season (they lost to Inter at that stage too), Pioli’s side will be very happy to get out of the group stage this time out as PSG and Dortmund are the favorites, for now, to advance.

Milan will have England international center back Fikayo Tomori back after he was suspended for their heavy defeat to Inter, while Pierre Kalulu and Ismael Bennacer are out injured.