Newcastle 0-1 Borussia Dortmund: German giants stun Eddie Howe’s Magpies as Felix Nmecha scores the only goal in a St James’ Park thriller to throw their Champions League group wide open

Newcastle thought about signing Felix Nmecha in the summer before spending £52million on Sandro Tonali. While the latter awaits a 10-month ban for illegal gambling, the former looks a sure thing as Dortmund’s replacement for Jude Bellingham.

The 23-year-old, raised in Manchester and once an England youth international, was the game’s best player and his goal proved the difference on a rainswept night that brought Eddie Howe and Newcastle back to earth with a bump and splash.

There is touch of Howe about Dortmund boss Edin Terzic – intelligent, calm and engaging. But the German did a job on his English counterpart here, and his use of Nmecha was the game-changer.

Formerly of Manchester City and now capped by Germany, the midfielder has been earmarked as Bellingham’s heir after arriving from Wolfsburg. Three years Bellingham’s senior but not, as one may expect, light years behind the Real Madrid star. There is an immediate likeness, too, an ability to ghost from midfield without trace, and that knack certainly haunted Newcastle.

His goal in the 45th minute was the perfect example, hiding in plain sight inside the penalty area as he waited for a cross from team-mate Nico Schlotterbeck. The finish was also Bellingham-esque, opening his body before sweeping home with the confidence of a far more seasoned pro.

Newcastle bought Tonali for nights like this. Since the start of last season, no other midfielder on the continent has played more minutes in the Champions League. That record will soon expire when the Italian is hit with his suspension this week. He was introduced midway through the second half but there was no romantic send-off. Like his team-mates, he soon ran into a yellow wall.

To think, there was a feature in the matchday programme detailing how to beat Dortmund, four pages of tactical analysis complete with words and diagrams. Perhaps the Bundesliga outfit used that as motivation. Without a goal and with just one point in the Group of Death beforehand, this has breathed life into their campaign.