Newcastle United adopt Paris Saint-Germain's 'bizarre' kick-off routine to start Premier League campaign against Aston Villa

Newcastle United replicated Paris Saint-Germain's kick-off routine to start their Premier League campaign on Saturday, with Sanro Tonali immediately sending the ball out for a throw-in, deep in Aston Villa's half. The tactic initially raised eyebrows when used by the Ligue 1 outfit, but it appears to have gained some admirers after they went on to win the UEFA Champions League last season.

Newcastle waste no time in trying football’s newest kick-off

Video credit: TNT Sports

Newcastle United started their Premier League season by replicating the unique kick-off tactic recently brought to prominence by Paris Saint-Germain.

Magpies midfielder Sandro Tonali kicked off the match against Aston Villa on Saturday, not by passing back to a team-mate, but by sending the ball forward, straight into touch for a throw-in, in the far left corner.

It was greeted by ironic cheers from some sections of Villa Park, but it was evidently a deliberate tactic by the visitors.

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It appears that Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has taken inspiration from Luis Enrique's PSG, who have adopted this approach on several occasions in recent months.

At various points during their run to UEFA Champions League glory last season, a PSG player would lay the ball back from kick-off for a team-mate to send into touch, deep in the opposition's half.

It became even more apparent at the start of the final against Internazionale, when they skipped the lay-off and sent the ball out of play with their first touch.

Reacting to this particular kick-off while on commentary for TNT Sports and discovery+, Ally McCoist said: "Bizarre, we'll just call it bizarre. Very strange."

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The tactic allows the Ligue 1 side, who have become renowned for their high press, to pin their opposition in the corner, immediately putting them under pressure.

It has now become a regular feature of their games, with the tactic being used in the FIFA Club World Cup over the summer and, less effectively, in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.

Vitinha, who is generally responsible for sending the ball out of play, appeared to get his execution wrong against Tottenham Hotspur, sending the ball straight out for a goal-kick.

Commentating on TNT Sports, Darren Fletcher remarked on this following Tonali's pinpoint effort, saying: "There's this new kick-off that everybody's trying.

"Unlike the other night, it wasn't shanked. It wasn't the best one from Vitinha but that one was fine."

With Newcastle keeping a clean sheet at Villa Park, it remains to be seen whether it will be a tactic they adopt from every kick-off.

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