3 Years Since The 4-1 PSG Win Only 3 Players From The Starting XI Remain

Three years ago, Newcastle United produced one of the most memorable European nights in the club’s modern history as Eddie Howe’s side dismantled Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 at St James’ Park.

The Champions League victory on October 4, 2023, represented far more than three points. It was a statement that Newcastle were ready to compete on Europe’s biggest stage, with a passionate St James’ Park providing the perfect backdrop for a historic evening.

Three years on, however, the Newcastle squad has changed dramatically.

Remarkably, only three players who started that famous victory over PSG remain at the club today, highlighting just how quickly the team has evolved since the PIF-backed ownership era began reshaping Newcastle’s squad.

Nick Pope started in goal that night, behind a defensive line of Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schär, Jamaal Lascelles and Dan Burn. Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali formed part of the midfield, while Miguel Almirón, Sean Longstaff and Anthony Gordon supported Alexander Isak in attack.

The night itself belonged to Newcastle.

Miguel Almirón opened the scoring before Dan Burn doubled the advantage shortly before half-time. PSG pulled one back through Lucas Hernández after the interval, but Newcastle refused to buckle. Fabian Schär restored the two-goal cushion before an extraordinary atmosphere inside St James’ Park reached another level.

Sean Longstaff then completed the scoring with Newcastle’s fourth, sparking unforgettable scenes among the supporters.

The result remains one of the defining moments of Newcastle’s return to the Champions League, particularly given the stature of the opposition and the manner of the performance.

Yet the contrast between that starting XI and the current Newcastle squad is striking.

Of the 11 players who began the match, only three remain with Newcastle three years later. The turnover demonstrates the scale of the transformation taking place at the club, with recruitment continuing to reshape the squad under a new era of leadership and a different tactical vision.

Players who were central figures during Howe’s tenure have departed, moved on, or seen their roles change, while a younger and increasingly international squad has emerged.

The changes also underline the financial and sporting ambition surrounding Newcastle. The club is no longer simply attempting to break into European competition; expectations have shifted towards regularly competing for major honours and establishing Newcastle among Europe’s elite.

For supporters, the PSG victory remains a night that will never be forgotten. But looking at the team three years later provides an even clearer picture of how quickly football can change.

The faces may be different, the manager may be different and the footballing philosophy may have evolved, but the ambition remains the same.

Three years after Newcastle stunned PSG 4-1, just three of those starting players remain.

The question now is whether the next generation can create a night that eventually eclipses it.