Nick Pope as the Newcastle Goalkeeper Makes an 'Unbelievable' Reaction Stop to Deny PSG an Equalizer

2023-11-29 3

Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope was hailed for making the 'save of his life' to protect his side's narrow 1-0 lead in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain.

Pope was called into action in the second half as PSG chased an equalizer after Alexander Isak put the Premier League side ahead at the Parc des Princes.

PSG looked to have leveled the match as Bradley Barcola turned Kylian Mbappe's cross goalwards.

Pope produced an astonishing reaction save, with the Newcastle goalkeeper blocking from close range to turn the shot around the post.

The Newcastle goalkeeper was lauded by TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher and co-commentator Ally McCoist for the stop.


'What a save Nick Pope. A brilliant save from Nick Pope, one of the saves of his life to deny Barcola, brilliant,' Fletcher said.

McCoist added: ‘That’s unbelievable. All day it is a goal. What a save that is.

'It is a brilliant play on the right-hand side by Mbappe, but he has to score Barcola, he must score.

'An amazing save from Nick Pope. Astonishing.'

Fletcher admitted he had already been preparing to update fans on the possible group permutations of a PSG equaliser, until Pope's superb intervention.

‘That is an astonishing stop, I was just preparing to say what Newcastle would have to do from this point,' he said.

'There was no way Pope was meant to save that.’

Pope was eventually beaten as PSG controversially rescued a late draw through Kylian Mbappe's stoppage-time penalty.

The hosts leveled from the spot after Tino Livramento was harshly adjudged to have handled in the area after the ball struck the defender's elbow.

Mbappe's late penalty keeps PSG second in the group, with Newcastle now needing to beat AC Milan and favor from Borussia Dortmund to stand a chance of reaching the knock-out stages.