Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Howe on Nick Pope's performance as Newcastle kept a second consecutive clean sheet: "Nick Pope was outstanding. He was excellent against Brentford. It is no coincidence two big displays from him and two clean sheets, absolutely crucial for us.

"The way we defended was commendable, blocked shots, the amount of times we threw ourselves in front of the ball. You cannot underestimate the power of that draw.

"You can’t underestimate the difficulties of coming here, the emotion of the game, new experiences, we had to take a lot on board today. We can improve but growth and improvement is always things we look to do. We can be very positive about our next game.

"It could be a vital point, who knows?"

Gary Rose
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle are back at the top table in Europe after a 20-year absence and while it wasn't a particularly glorious return, a 0-0 draw at a packed San Siro is certainly a credible result.

Eddie Howe's side were not at their best and could have been two or three goals down as AC Milan dominated the first half, but a mixture of good saves and poor finishing ensured the scores were level at the break.

The second half was much more even, and Newcastle almost snatched it in the last second through Sean Longstaff, but the visiting fans will feel there is more to come from their side on their Champions League return.

Another level will certainly be needed, with Kylian Mbappe and co at PSG coming to St James' Park in their next European fixture.

Gary: Well done Newcastle. Also, when we think of English players playing abroad, Bellingham and Kane are often the first names mentioned. Credit to Tomori and Loftus-Cheek who have been quietly doing a solid job for Milan for a while now.

Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle walk away from this and I think they are quite proud of the game, I really do think they are very proud of it. Not outclassed and knowing and understanding what you have to do to get points away from home in the Champions League. So they will walk away without a shadow of a doubt the happier of the teams.

Lets Agree To Disagree: Newcastle survived the onslaught to get a point. They will be pleased with this result. But they need to do better, not all the teams that they face will be this forgiving when in front of goal.

Newcastle United

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe: "You can't underestimate the difficulties of coming here - the emotion of the game, new experiences, we had to take a lot on board.

"I thought the crowd were very good for Milan. It was a hostile atmosphere and the players had to adjust to that and that is why I don't think you can underestimate the performance and point.

"It will look better and better as time goes on. There were new experiences for a lot of us tonight and hopefully we can grow from this."

Pat Nevin
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

I'd say Newcastle might have just sneaked it for part of the second half but that happens away from home in the Champions League.

I think Newcastle could have played a little bit better but I don’t know if they could have worked any harder. The workrate right the way through the team was exceptional. That’s what kept them in the game. They threw their bodies in front of the ball when they had to.

Image source, Reuters

Richard: Chelsea fan here. Just wanted to send my congratulations to Newcastle and their fans on a brilliant opening result. To go to AC Milan in the cauldron that is the San Siro, is a brilliant result, no matter how you slice it. So well played & really hope you can get though this what is being called "Group of death".

Image source, .

Jacob Murphy's reaction to the Champions League anthem before the game with AC Milan was priceless.

It was a moment the 28-year-old Newcastle player had dreamed about for years and Murphy could not hide his feelings as the Magpies returned to the competition for the first time in 20 years.

A dream come true.

Image source, PA Media

Newcastle are back in Europe's elite club competition after finishing fourth in the Premier League last season, and this was their first match in a tough Group F that also contains French champions Paris St-Germain and German giants Borussia Dortmund.

They were given a reminder of the difficulty of games in this competition as Milan dominated the first half, with Nick Pope saving well from Olivier Giroud and Theo Hernandez, but they rode their luck while defending superbly to earn what could prove to be a valuable point.

For many of the Newcastle players - and for Howe himself - this was their first taste of Champions League football and the Magpies boss believes it could prove a valuable learning experience.

Read the full match report here.

George Cummins
BBC Radio 5 live

Tottenham are making it clear this morning that Daniel Levy has been misquoted with regards to the ‘buy back claim’ for Harry Kane that is doing the rounds this morning.

He did NOT say: “There is a buy-back clause."

The video of last night’s event with Levy will likely be released on their social media channels this morning.

Spain

Image source, PA Media

Spain's World Cup winning-squad has agreed to end their boycott of the national team after the country's football federation (RFEF) said it would make "immediate and profound changes" to its structure.

The decision was reached after more than seven hours of meetings at a hotel in Oliva, an hour from Valencia, involving the players, RFEF officials, the National Sports Council (CSD) and the women's players' union FUTPRO.

The players had said they would not represent Spain until there were further changes at the federation, deepening a crisis that started after former (RFEF) boss Luis Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the World Cup presentation ceremony.

"A joint commission will be created between RFEF, CSD and players to follow up on the agreements, which will be signed tomorrow," CSD President Victor Francos told reporters.

"The players have expressed their concern about the need for profound changes in the RFEF, which has committed to making these changes immediately."

Neither Francos nor Rafael del Amo, president of the RFEF committee for women's football, would elaborate on the changes to be made, only saying they would be announced "soon".

"The players see it as a rapprochement of positions. It is the beginning of a long road ahead of us,"

FUTPRO president Amanda Gutierrez told reporters. "Once again, they have shown themselves to be coherent and the vast majority have decided to stay for the sake of this agreement."

Shall we move on? All the reaction from Newcastle's game is up next but first there has been a major development overnight in the long-running dispute featuring Spain's World Cup winning-squad.

BillyMeredith: Julian Alvarez has been superb in the last two games. His feet are so quick. KDB has barely been missed. Doku and Nunes slotted in seamlessly and once more Rodri proved he is the best in his position in the world.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the Etihad Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

In the immediate aftermath of Argentina's World Cup win in December, the narrative around Julian Alvarez was how weird it was for someone to be good enough to win the biggest prize of all but not to get into the Manchester City side.

At that point, Alvarez seemed to be a back-up to Erling Haaland.

Not anymore.

In a reshaped squad, hit by experienced departures and injuries, Alvarez has turned into one of the most important players.

He created chances for others, has superb close control and also scores goals.

His first against Red Star was brilliant. Moving at full speed, he kept his composure and eventually scored the goal City craved and which turned the match on its head.

Chris Sutton
Former Chelsea striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Manchester City are absolutely relentless. This is the norm for them. They are dominant in the Premier League, they were dominant in the Champions League last season.

The worry for everybody else and across Europe is that they didn’t have a great deal of time off in the summer and we expected them to come back and ease their way into the season and be slow starters.

It’s been the complete opposite.

They have been on fire from the start of the season. The one worry is their squad isn’t the biggest anyway and they are a little bit thin now with Bernardo Silva who went off just before half-time. But they always find a way of coping don’t they?

Will Harry Kane play for Tottenham again?

The Times reports Spurs inserted a buy-back clause as part of the deal which took the England captain to Bayern Munich.

Kane is getting ready to face Manchester United in the Champions League later (20:00 BST).

Image source, Times

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the Etihad Stadium

Image source, Reuters

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says his side are "in trouble" with a mounting injury list that threatens to disrupt the club's perfect start to the season.

City only had six outfield players on their bench for the 3-1 Champions League victory over Red Star Belgrade.

And their seventh successive triumph in all competitions came at a cost as midfielder Bernardo Silva became the latest player to pick up an injury which, according to Guardiola, will keep him out for "the next few weeks".

The Portuguese international joins Kevin de Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Mateo Kovacic and John Stones on the sidelines.

"We are in trouble but I am not going to say 'oh, we have a lot of injuries'. It is what it is," said Guardiola

"With the players we have, we will go for it. As long as we have that mentality, that is good. We have five really important players injured and to sustain that for a long time would be difficult."

LongTimeBlue: I honestly don't think Man City have even got out of second gear this season. It's ominous for everyone else when they finally do get going.

As expected, Manchester City's win features on the back page of the Daily Mirror. They lead on Manchester United's visit to Bayern Munich.

Image source, Daily Mirror