Newcastle 0-1 Borussia Dortmund – Champions League LIVE: Felix Nmecha silences St James’ Park just before half-time as German giants take the lead in a breathtaking first-half on Tyneside

What a first-half at St James’ Park. it began at quite a pace with efforts from both sides in the opening few minutes before the home team asserted their control over the tie.

But despite Newcastle’s pressure Dortmund continued to carry a threat and they eventually made it count.

A thrilling second period beckons!

The German side finally make one of their counter attacks stick and with it they take the lead and score their first goal of this season’s competition.

Nmecha calmly slotted past Pope after wonderful work from Schlotterbeck.

Ozcan replaces Emre Can, who couldn’t continue.

Somehow. He’s going to try and run it off but he’s moving very gingerly.

Skipper Emre Can looks like he won’t be able to continue after picking up a knock.

Wolf is shown a yellow card for a foul on Almiron.

While Dortmund remain a threat on the break, Newcastle have certainly taken up a dominant stance.

The game has calmed down slightly from it’s frantic start with the home side enjoying the lion share of possesion.

Eddie Howe’s team are enjoying their most dominant spell of the game. Gordon and Almiron have started brilliantly for Newcastle.

And it’s Malen again. Dortmund work it brilliantly into the Newcastle box but the home side had bodies in the way and were able to block the forward’s strike on goal.

We’ve had eight of them in the first 25 minutes of this one. Can Dortmund maintain their threat?

Almiron, Trippier and Guimaraes come close to breaking the deadlock for the home side. The Brazilian clips a wonderful ball into the path of the Newcastle winger, but Almiron fluffs his lines in an attempt to volley the ball on the angle.

The game has swung back in their favour.

Almiron drives into the box before going down but the referee is having none of his – and the thousands in the stands – demands for a spot-kick.

Another Dortmund break and another shot for Malen. This time it’s block but it’s another corner for the German outfit in a really open game.

Wilson comes on for Isak

The forward wraps his foot around a pass from Reus but his shot goes over the woodwork.

The Dutch striker could have had a hat-trick already.

It’s end-to-end stuff! Gordon fires straight at Kobel from close range from a Newcastle counter-attack.

Dortmung should have taken the lead. The away side worked it down the left flank before Malen struck at goal on the penalty spot. Pope pulled off a great save before bouncing to his feet and saving again.

The home side are beginning to impose their will on the German side. Some neat play leads to Gordon forcing a corner on the left flank.

First, Malen was completly unmarked in the middle and strode forward to strike unopposed on goal after a wonderful pass. Pope made a solid save from the forward who shot from a tight angle.

Newcastle responded quickly through Gordon who cut inside and fired a curling effort towards goal. Kobel was a match for the effort.

Amazing scenes at St James’ Park as the team’s come out for the game. The Newcastle fans are certainly up for this one.

Can they get a huge win?

The club legend and former captain Marco Reus has put in his fair share of heroic performances and they’ll need another from him tonight to secure an unlikely win.

‘It’s a chance tomorrow to show what we can do.’ He said during the pre-match press conference. ‘Perhaps away from home in the past, we’ve not performed to our best – I’m not sure why that was last season – but obviously tomorrow gives us that chance to change things.

‘In the Bundesliga, we have been doing well and we have confidence. We approach tomorrow’s game looking to win – and of course, we need the points.’

The visitors are hoping to snap a four game losing streak to English sides on these shores.

Dortmund have conceded at least twice in each defeat. The losses have come against Manchester City, Tottenham – twice – and Liverpool back in 2016.

The action will get underway at St James’ Park at 8pm.

‘When you look at this group that we’re in, you can see the strength of it.’ He said ahead of kick-off. ‘They’re top of the group at the moment, but only three points ahead [of Dortmund], only two games are gone, so it’s really tight.

‘We need to produce a very good performance so that we can earn a victory.’

If the other result in the group goes their way, Newcastle could be five points clear of AC Milan in third place.

A defeat however could see Dortmund draw level with the English side and open the door for PSG to take control of the group.

It’s a crucial game for both side’s qualification hopes.

A big boost for the Magpies ahead of kick-off with the absence of Dortmund’s star man Julian Brandt.

Edin Terzic has made two changes from the side that beat Werder Bremen on Friday, in which Brandt scored the winner.

Former Man Utd and Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer comes in for him.

‘To think you’d be sitting in this position and doing a press conference before a Champions League game seemed nearly impossible, I would say.’ He said before the tie.

‘I think now we’re just trying to enjoy the momentum and enjoy the good times, I would say. A lot of it has been a long time coming and probably something that we didn’t think would happen, so for us to be in this position now is a real privilege.

‘To get to experience great nights in massive competitions is what every player wants and one we’re really grateful to be a part of.’

Newcastle have reportedly threatened AC Milan with a multi-million pound lawsuit as their midfielder Sandro Tonali prepares to be hit with a lengthy ban from the sport.

However, the ban is not likely to arrive officially before their Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund at St James’ Park and Tonali will be available to Eddie Howe. Any suspension is only effective from the following day.

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DEF: Schlotterbeck, Hummels, Bensebaini, Wolf

MID: Sabitzer, Can, Nmecha

FOR: Malen, Fullkrug, Reus

Newcastle subs: Dubravka, Karius, Livramento, Dummett, Tonali, Wilson, Targett, Hall, Livramento, Murphy, Willock

DEF: Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Burn

MID: Guimaraes, Longstaff, Joelinton

FOR: Almiron, Gordon, Isak

Newcastle were in dreamland after thrashing a star-studden PSG team last time out but tonight’s opponents will provide a tougher test. In terms of effort at least.

Dortmund arrive at St James’ Park in fine form having won their last five Bundesliga games.

Edin Terzic’s side have been one of the most consistent performers this calendar year but they have ultimately failed to claim any silverware for their efforts.

There was some good injury news for Newcastle fans this week as Eddie Howe confirmed Joe Wilock is getting closer to a return to the first team.

The former Arsenal midfelder has been out of action since May but Howe gave supporters hope he could be in line to feature soon.

‘[Joe] Willock is getting closer with every day that passes,’ he told reporters on Tuesday.

Unfortunately Sven Botman still remains some way away from making his return from a knee injury.

Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali is set to miss the next 10 months with Italian authorities ready to confirm his ban for illegal betting.

However, it is not likely to arrive officially before Wednesday night’s Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund at St James’ Park and Tonali will be available to Eddie Howe. Any suspension is only effective from the following day.

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To another special night of Champions League action at St James’ Park. It promises to be anyway, especially after the last tie in Newcastle which ended 4-1 to the home side against Ligue giants PSG.

Eddie Howe’s side sit top of Group F while the visitors are bottom and still in search of their first goal in this year’s competition.

Don’t let that fool you though. Dortmund have won their last five Bundesliga games and are just two points off the top of a congested table led by Bayer Leverkusen.

It certainly feels like it could be another thriller on Tyneside and Mail Sport will bring you all the updates until kick-off followed by the key action when the game gets underway!

Let’s get going!