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This video can not be played Newcastle United headed into victory over Athletic Club At a glance Dan Burn opens scoring with bullet header Joelinton adds second with another header after half-time Anthony Gordon substituted with hip injury PLAYER RATINGS A pair of headers from Dan Burn and Joelinton powered Newcastle United to victory as they defeated Athletic Club in the Champions League. Burn and Joelinton were among nine players who kept their places following the weekend defeat against West Ham and the experienced duo repaid the faith of head coach Eddie Howe at St James' Park. It was Burn who opened the scoring, directing a superb bullet header in off the upright from Kieran Trippier's free-kick on 11 minutes. Injury-hit Athletic did not crumble, however, and left-back Adama Boiro struck the post on the volley while Nick Pope had to be alert at his near post to keep out forward Unai Gomez's shot with his foot. But Newcastle, who lost Anthony Gordon to a hip issue, doubled their lead after the break. The recalled Harvey Barnes created space inside the box with some neat footwork before scooping the ball across to the unmarked Joelinton, who headed past Unai Simon. Athletic rallied again and Pope pushed substitute Nico Serrano's shot behind late on, but Newcastle saw out the game to move above Real Madrid into sixth place in the standings. Howe's team, in the process, recorded three straight victories in a major European competition for the first time since 2007. Have your say on Newcastle's performance Dan Burn has scored nine goals for Newcastle United since joining the club from Brighton in January 2022 You could detect the irritation in Burn's voice when he said "everybody knows we will turn up" after Newcastle did anything but at London Stadium last time out. But the England defender led by example against Athletic Club as his side responded to their poor showing at the weekend. Though Burn is not known for scoring many goals, the 33-year-old popped up with one of the most important in Newcastle's recent history when he opened the scoring in the EFL Cup final last March. And this header brought back memories of that set-piece goal as he again linked up with Trippier, who has set up five of Burn's nine goals for the club. It was a move straight from the training ground. Burn initially took up a position outside the box alongside Athletic forward Robert Navarro before making a late run towards the back post just as Trippier took the set-piece. The 6ft 7in defender managed to avoid being picked up, after Joelinton and Malick Thiaw blocked off Athletic players Daniel Vivian and Jesus Areso, and directed a superb header in off the upright. No wonder the watching Alan Shearer was on his feet to applaud that one in the directors' box. It was a bullet header Newcastle's record goalscorer would have been proud of. Newcastle travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to take on Brentford on Sunday, 9 November (14: 00 GMT). Howe's side then face Manchester City at St James' Park on Saturday, 22 November (17: 30 GMT) in their first game after the international break. Athletic Club host Real Oviedo at San Mames on Sunday, 9 November (13: 00 GMT) before going to the Nou Camp to take on Barcelona on Saturday, 22 November (15: 15 GMT). After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 5th November 2025 at 22: 47 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Eddie Howe Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Ernesto Valverde Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Eddie Howe Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Ernesto Valverde Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 UEFA Champions League All competitions All competitions All competitions Newcastle and Athletic Club have faced twice before in European competition, with the Basque side eliminating the Magpies from the last 32 of the UEFA Cup in 1994-95 (3-3 on aggregate over two legs, progressed on away goals). Athletic Club’s previous away match at Newcastle came in a 3-2 defeat in the first leg of their last 32 UEFA Cup tie in October 1994. Overall, Athletic have only won one of their 10 matches away to English sides in Europe (D1 L8), with that victory coming at Manchester United in March 2012 under Marcelo Bielsa (3-2 in the UEFA Europa League – first leg of a last 16 tie). Athletic Club have lost all three of their games against English teams in 2025, losing twice to Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals last season and versus Arsenal in their UEFA Champions League opener this term. Only one Spanish side has previously lost four games against English sides in a single calendar year in major European competition: Atlético de Madrid in 2021 (L2 v Chelsea and Liverpool). MD2 and MD3 saw Newcastle record first their biggest ever win (4-0 vs Union Saint-Gilloise) and then joint-biggest home win (3-0 vs Benfica) in the UEFA Champions League – the Magpies could now win three games in the row in major European competition for the first time since March 2007 in the UEFA Cup. Athletic Club are winless in each of their five European away games in 2025 (D1 L4), losing three of those matches by the same 4-1 scoreline – no Spanish club has ever lost three consecutive major European games and conceded more than three times in each defeat. Newcastle have already eclipsed their points tally from their previous UEFA Champions League season in 2023-24 (5, 6 this season) and a win in this match will see them pick up as many as nine points in a group stage campaign for only the second time, previously doing so in the 2002-03 first group phase (W3 L3). Anthony Gordon has scored four goals in the UEFA Champions League this season, becoming the first Newcastle player to score in three consecutive outings in the competition in the process. Prior to 2025-26, he had played seven matches in major European competition without scoring once. Gorka Guruzeta has scored three goals in three UEFA Champions League appearances this season, netting in each of his last two games. If he finds the net here, he would be the first Athletic Club player to score in three consecutive outings in the European Cup/Champions League. Jacob Murphy has provided an assist in three of his five UEFA Champions League appearances, averaging an assist every 59 minutes in the competition – Bukayo Saka (4) and Aaron Lennon (3) are the only other English players to register at least three assists through their first five appearances in the competition.    Athletic Club’s Unai Simón has conceded seven goals in the UEFA Champions League this season, despite facing an expected goals on target total of 3. 75. Excluding own goals, this was the biggest underperformance by a goalkeeper across the first three matchdays of the current edition (-3. 25). Match ends, Newcastle United 2, Athletic Club 0. Second Half ends, Newcastle United 2, Athletic Club 0. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Íñigo Ruíz de Galarreta (Athletic Club). Attempt saved. Nico Serrano (Athletic Club) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Nick Pope (Newcastle United). Assisted by Adama Boiro. Foul by Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United). Dani Vivian (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match because of an injury Aitor Paredes (Athletic Club). Attempt missed. Dani Vivian (Athletic Club) with an attempt from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nico Serrano with a cross following a corner. Corner, Athletic Club. Conceded by Nick Pope. Attempt saved. Nico Serrano (Athletic Club) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Nick Pope (Newcastle United). Assisted by Mikel Vesga. Attempt blocked. Asier Hierro (Athletic Club) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mikel Vesga. Foul by Jacob Murphy (Newcastle United). Adama Boiro (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Asier Hierro (Athletic Club) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Andoni Gorosabel with a cross. Substitution, Newcastle United. Jacob Ramsey replaces Nick Woltemade. Attempt blocked. Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Jacob Murphy. Attempt saved. Nico Serrano (Athletic Club) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Nick Pope (Newcastle United). Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.