Paris Saint-Germain Fails to Secure Direct Qualification for Champions League Round of 16
28 January 2026at21:56
Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United played out a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes in their eighth and final league phase match of the UEFA Champions League.
Portuguese midfielder Vitinha opened the scoring for Paris early in the 8th minute, but Newcastle snatched an equalizer in the 45+2nd minute through Joe Willock.
This result confirmed Paris Saint-Germain's failure to secure direct qualification to the Round of 16, as they finished 11th in the overall standings with 14 points.
This setback means the Parisian team will have to compete in a two-legged playoff in February to secure a spot in the Round of 16. The same applies to Newcastle, who finished 12th.
Q&A
Why did Paris Saint-Germain fail to secure direct Champions League qualification?
PSG's 1-1 draw against Newcastle, despite Vitinha's early goal, meant they finished 11th in the league phase. This result forces them into a playoff round to advance.
What are the implications of the 1-1 draw for both PSG and Newcastle in the Champions League?
The 1-1 draw means both Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United must now compete in a two-legged playoff in February to reach the Champions League Round of 16.
