Inspired Nick Pope Performance Helps Newcastle Draw With AC Milan In First Champions League Game Since 2003

Newcastle got a point from their 1st UEFA Champions League game in 20 years, thanks mainly to goalkeeper Nick Pope, who made 8 saves in a 0-0 draw at AC Milan.

Newcastle United were thoroughly outplayed on their return to the UEFA Champions League but managed to escape with a 0-0 draw against AC Milan in Italy on Tuesday.

The Serie A side - who had been thrashed 5-1 by city rivals Inter three days earlier - would have won comfortably had it not been for an inspired performance by Nick Pope.

Newcastle keeper Pope pulled off eight saves to keep an impressive clean sheet, denying the likes of Rafael Leao, Samuel Chukwueze and Olivier Giroud.

25 - Milan’s 25 shots was their most in a #UCL game without scoring since they fired 27 against PSV in October 2005. Curse.#MilanNewcastle

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) September 19, 2023

Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope made EIGHT saves during Tuesday's 0-0 draw away at AC Milan :: IMAGO/PA Images/Owen Humphreys

At the other end, Newcastle did not register a shot on target until the fifth minute of added time when Sean Longstaff was thwarted by substitute keeper Marco Sportiello.

Mike Maignan had earlier been taken off with an injury issue, despite having not been called upon to make a single save during his 80 minutes on the field.

Newcastle - who had last featured in a Champions League group game in March 2003 - were cheered on by more than 3,500 away fans at the San Siro.

Those supporters will likely have been delighted by the result based on the balance of play.

Eddie Howe's side will next be in European action on October 4 when French champions Paris Saint-Germain visit St. James' Park.

The other team in Group F is Germany's Borussia Dortmund.

Highlights: AC Milan 0-0 Newcastle