Newcastle 9/4 to progress in Champions League

Coral are offering Newcastle United odds of 9/4 for Eddie Howe’s men to qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League after their 1-1 draw at Paris St Germain on Tuesday night.

The Magpies were within a few minutes of a famous victory at the Parc des Princes when a questionable handball decision against Tino Livramento handed Kylian Mbappe the chance to snatch a point, and it was one he took with some aplomb.

The result left Newcastle needing to beat Serie A giants AC Milan at St James’ Park on December 13 and hope the French champions do not win at Borussia Dortmund if they are to emerge from Group F.

Coral’s Lewis Knowles said: “Eddie Howe’s side can count themselves very unlucky after that controversial penalty decision, but that point does keep their qualification hopes alive, and we now make the Magpies 9/4 to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League.”

Should the Magpies beat Milan, they would have eight points and that would mean PSG, who already have seven, would have to win in Germany against the already-qualified Bundesliga side as the Premier League club would have the better of the head-to-head if they finished level.

Newcastle boss Howe was angry with the penalty decision, which he described as “poor”, but his sense of injustice masked a belief that there could be another twist to come.

He said: “I think we have to look that we’re still in the competition. The first thing to do is look at that because it could have been different tonight, so that game now is going to take on huge significance for lots of different reasons.

“We’re back at home and we’re excited about the game when it comes around, so they’re huge positives for us. That’s why I don’t think we should lose sight of that despite the disappointing ending.

“We’ve shown that despite the huge number of players – quality players – not being here, the group has stepped up and given more.