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Anthony Gordon has scored 23 goals for Newcastle United since joining the club from Everton in 2023 At a glance Woltemade gets final touch on Tonali's deflected effort to open scoring. Gordon penalty doubles Newcastle's advantage. Another penalty from Gordon extends lead after a VAR check. Substitute Barnes adds a fourth goal. PLAYER RATINGS Anthony Gordon scored two penalties against Union Saint-Gilloise as Newcastle United claimed a convincing first Champions League win of the season. Newcastle suffered a dramatic defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Sunday, but the clinical visitors looked like a side eager to respond as they secured their first away victory in the competition since 2003. There was certainly no sign of a hangover at Lotto Park when Nick Woltemade opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Winger Anthony Elanga whipped a cross into the box and Union could only clear the ball as far as the lurking Sandro Tonali on the edge of the area. Tonali caught the ball sweetly on the volley and the Italian's effort took a deflection off record signing Woltemade to wrongfoot goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen. Champions League newcomers Union did not crumble, however, and Nick Pope had to make an important save midway through the first half to parry Adem Zorgane's shot behind. Newcastle were given a chance to double their lead from the spot just before half-time when Elanga was brought down by Fedde Leysen inside the Union box. Up stepped Gordon, whose well-struck penalty sent Scherpen the wrong way. Belgian champions Union came back once again after the break and Anan Khalaili fired wide before Pope went on to keep out fierce efforts from Ousseynou Niang and Zorgane. Their challenge was dealt a major blow, though, when Newcastle were awarded another penalty midway through the second half as Leysen was penalised for handball following a VAR check. Gordon did the honours with another convincing penalty before substitute Harvey Barnes added a fourth late on with a fine finish from inside the box to seal the win in Brussels. After defeat by Barcelona in their opener, this convincing display brought the first points of Newcastle's European campaign, getting them properly up and running. Idiotic or a fair price? Newcastle's Woltemade and the £69m fee Have your say on Newcastle's performance You would not have known Newcastle United were the Premier League's joint-lowest goalscorers. Not by the manner in which the ruthless visitors took Union apart on Wednesday night. No wonder those Newcastle supporters in the away end repeatedly sang about how they did not want to go home after seeing their side finally click in the attacking third. This was the first game in which Woltemade, Elanga and Gordon have started together and the trio quickly caused Union problems. Elanga, who had a hand in both of Newcastle's opening goals, tormented Leysen with his lightning pace. Gordon is hardly a slouch, either, and the forward looks at home on this stage having already opened the scoring against Barcelona in Newcastle's opening Champions League fixture last month. Rather than shying away, the Englishman embraced the responsibility of taking both of Newcastle's penalties. He even had a role in Newcastle's fourth goal after winning the ball inside his own penalty area and playing a smart pass forward to William Osula, who teed up fellow substitute Barnes following a rapid breakaway. And what about Woltemade? Newcastle were called "idiots" by Bayern Munich supervisory board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge for spending £69m on the German, but he popped up with his third goal in just four starts at Lotto Park. Woltemade's opener on Wednesday night was not exactly one for the highlight reel, but he has already shown innate ability to score typical 'number nine' goals by being in the right place at the right time inside the box in the opening weeks of his Newcastle career. Sterner tests lie in wait in the weeks and months ahead as Newcastle look to qualify for the last 16, but this felt like a significant victory. In more ways than one. Newcastle host Nottingham Forest at St James' Park on Sunday, 5 October. Howe's side then go to Brighton on Saturday, 18 October after the international break. 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 1st October 2025 at 20: 48 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Sébastien Pocognoli Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 Manager: Eddie Howe Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Sébastien Pocognoli Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 Manager: Eddie Howe Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 UEFA Champions League All competitions Union Saint-Gilloise will face off against an English side for the fifth time in European competition. After losing their first three, they beat Liverpool 2-1 at home in the most recent one in December 2023 (UEFA Europa League group stage). Since losing their first game against a Belgian side in March 1970 (0-2 v Anderlecht), Newcastle are unbeaten in their last nine such matches in European competition, winning eight of them (D1). The most recent of those, however, came in a 2-2 draw against Club Brugge in November 2012 in the UEFA Europa League. English sides have won nine of their previous 11 away games against Belgian opponents in the UEFA Champions League (D1 L1), with Aston Villa’s defeat at Club Brugge in November 2024 (0-1) being the only English defeat in this run. The last Belgian side to lose their first home match in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League was K. Lierse SK in October 1960 (0-3 v Barcelona). Since then, none of the last six have suffered defeat (W3 D3). Union Saint-Gilloise won their first ever European Cup/UEFA Champions League match 3-1 against PSV on MD1. The last Belgian side to win their first two games in the European Cup was RWD Molenbeek in 1975. Newcastle United have won just one of their last nine games in the UEFA Champions League (D3 L5), a 4-1 win over PSG in October 2023. The Magpies have won 32% of their games in the competition (8/25), with Blackburn (17%) the only English side with a lower win ratio. Union Saint-Gilloise had the highest direct speed average on MD1 of the current UEFA Champions League campaign, progressing the ball upfield quicker in their open play sequences than any other team (2. 31 metres per second). Indeed, they averaged the fewest passes per open play sequence (2. 2), opting for a more direct style of attack. Anthony Gordon scored Newcastle’s consolation goal in their 2-1 defeat to Barcelona on MD1. The last Newcastle player to score in their first two matches in a major European campaign was Patrick Kluivert in 2004-05 in the UEFA Cup. Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães applied more high-intensity pressures to opponents than any other central midfielder on MD1 of this season’s UEFA Champions League (70). Union Saint-Gilloise’s Kevin Mac Allister netted in his first UEFA Champions League appearance on MD1 – each of his last three major European goals have been away, with Mac Allister scoring just once in seven home games. Foul by Kevin Mac Allister (Union Saint-Gilloise). Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match because of an injury Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United). Christian Burgess (Union Saint-Gilloise) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Christian Burgess (Union Saint-Gilloise). Attempt saved. Adem Zorgane (Union Saint-Gilloise) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Nick Pope (Newcastle United). Attempt blocked. Fedde Leysen (Union Saint-Gilloise) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kamiel Van de Perre. Attempt saved. Ousseynou Niang (Union Saint-Gilloise) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Nick Pope (Newcastle United). Assisted by Anan Khalaili. Attempt missed. Anan Khalaili (Union Saint-Gilloise) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Marc Giger. Foul by Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United). Anouar Ait El Hadj (Union Saint-Gilloise) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United). Christian Burgess (Union Saint-Gilloise) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt saved. Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Kjell Scherpen (Union Saint-Gilloise). Assisted by Joelinton. Second Half begins Union Saint-Gilloise 0, Newcastle United 2. Substitution, Union Saint-Gilloise. Marc Giger replaces Promise David. First Half ends, Union Saint-Gilloise 0, Newcastle United 2. Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Kamiel Van de Perre (Union Saint-Gilloise). Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.