Newcastle, England - Newcastle United secured a dominant 2-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao in Champions League action, propelled by a stunning header from Dan Burn and a further goal from Joelinton. The win, Newcastle's third in succession in the competition, significantly boosts their hopes of progressing to the round-of-16.

The match, played at St James' Park, saw Burn open the scoring in the 11th minute with a memorable, curling header from a Kieran Trippier free-kick. The 33-year-old defender connected with the cross from 15 yards out, bending his header past the goalkeeper and into the far corner off the post. Joelinton added the second goal shortly after the restart, heading home a cross from Harvey Barnes to secure the victory for the Magpies.

Despite missing key players, including Spain international Nico Williams, Athletic Bilbao posed a threat, hitting the post twice in quick succession during the first half. Adama Boiro struck a thunderous shot against the post shortly after Burn's opener, and Unai Gomez also came close to equalizing. However, Newcastle's defense, led by Nick Pope, remained resolute, securing a third consecutive Champions League clean sheet.

Newcastle's manager, Eddie Howe, praised his team's response to their recent Premier League defeat against West Ham. He acknowledged that while the performance wasn't perfect, the team is now in a strong position in the Champions League. Howe specifically lauded Burn's goal, comparing it to his headed chance in the cup final and highlighting the defender's importance to the team.

Burn himself expressed his delight at scoring his first goal of the season and emphasized the importance of rediscovering the "ugly" side of their game following the loss to West Ham. He joked about the team's anticipation of his goal and his surprise at its execution, initially thinking he was attempting a pass.

The victory moves Newcastle into the top eight of the Champions League table, currently sitting sixth, increasing their chances of automatic qualification for the round-of-16. However, the win was marred slightly by an injury to Anthony Gordon, who was forced off in the first half with a suspected hip injury. Newcastle now turn their attention to their upcoming Premier League match against Brentford, where they aim to secure their first away league win of the season.