Newcastle United star's beautiful Kylian Mbappe moment & pre-Manchester United concern - five things

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Newcastle United were denied a famous Champions League victory via a VAR call against Paris Saint-Germain.

So near, yet so far. Newcastle United came within a whisker of producing the near impossible in France.

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Paris Saint-Germain had not lost a home Champions League group match at the Parc des Princes for more than a decade, no team had done the double over them since 2003. Yet Eddie Howe's incredible United side were a dodgy VAR call away from doing just that in Paris.

Here's the main talking points from a near historic night for Newcastle in Europe.

Newcastle United's Swedish striker #14 Alexander Isak scores a goal against Paris Saint-Germain's Italian goalkeeper #99 Gianluigi Donnarumma during the UEFA Champions League 1st round, day 5, Group F football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Newcastle United at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on November 28, 2023. Newcastle United's Swedish striker #14 Alexander Isak scores a goal against Paris Saint-Germain's Italian goalkeeper #99 Gianluigi Donnarumma during the UEFA Champions League 1st round, day 5, Group F football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Newcastle United at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on November 28, 2023.
Newcastle United's Swedish striker #14 Alexander Isak scores a goal against Paris Saint-Germain's Italian goalkeeper #99 Gianluigi Donnarumma during the UEFA Champions League 1st round, day 5, Group F football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Newcastle United at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on November 28, 2023. | AFP via Getty Images

He's here, he's there... Miggy Almiron!

I am struggling to remember a more energetic and effective 45 minutes from any player at Newcastle in recent memory, especially given the opposition.

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Miguel Almiron was absolutely everywhere at the Parc des Princes. He covered every blade for his team, took the knocks, ran the hard yards and created the chances - including the goal.

While he may not be in the rich vein of goalscoring form he was this time 12 months ago, he's certainly putting a consistent level of high quality performances. And long may it continue.

Bruno is made for the Champions League

We all know just how good Bruno Guimaraes is, but his current form surely puts him in the absolute upper echelons of the world's midfield fraternity.

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After his two shows against the Parisians, it'd be no shock to see them interested in taking the Brazilian off Newcastle's hands.

His first half performance was up there with one of the best seen in black and white in recent years, and that follows on from a lung-busting performance against Chelsea.

If Bruno keeps his swagger, you'd be daft to rule out this Newcastle side against anyone.

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Age is but a number for Newcastle's new midfield metronome

Never mind Louis XIV, it's Lewis XVII round these parts nowadays.

It wasn't the most eye-catching Miley display, he saved that for Chelsea at the weekend, but for a 17-year-old, at the highest level, making his first start in the Champions League, it was an absolutely beast of a performance.

He's now the third youngest English Champions League starter behind Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden. The sky is the limit for Miley.

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Things you never thought you'd see

When Jamaal Lascelles, as a youngster, stood up for what was right at Newcastle, as the kingdom crumbled around him, I'm not even sure the most optimistic of fans would have believed he'd be the man to lead United out in the Champions League.

From the Pirelli Stadium to the Parc des Princes, it's been some journey for the lad from Derby.

And last night, he produced a moment, I'm not sure anyone could have predicted. The world's undoubted best player Kylian Mbappe tried to run the United skipper down the line in the first half. Lascelles hoovered up the Frenchman's advance and backhealed off him to win a throw in. It was quite beautiful.

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What a result - but at what cost?

As written above, I cannot express, even in a list of superlatives, just how impressed I was with that heroic show from the 11 lads in black and white.

They dared to dream. And came so close to writing their own little bit of history.

The biggest fear, however, is at what cost the result has been gained. Manchester United are on Tyneside on Saturday night and you have to wonder whether Howe can continue to play the same starting XI, game after game.

Looking at the bench, he doesn't have a whole lot of other options.

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