Newcastle United fans took more of an interest in this year's Champions League than usual with Geordie supporters knowing their side will be in the draw for the 2023/24 competition come August.
In a game that was far from a spectacle, fans were offered a glimpse of the standard that Newcastle must now adhere to starting in autumn. Manchester City won the game without being at their best, but unfancied Inter Milan could easily have caused what would have been a shock on the night in Istanbul.
Newcastle will need to be equipped to face teams like Inter that will suffocate the life out of teams. And if anybody in the Premier League had their feathers ruffled by Newcastle's so-called "dark arts" this season, it was nothing compared to what teams face against top La Liga and Serie A sides where time-wasting and gamesmanship are rife.
