Thiaw melts, late jitters strike again and set-piece woes

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM DRAW IN GERMANY

- By SEAN MCCORMICK Newcastle United writer

NEWCASTLE United dropped two golden points in the Champions League on Wednesday evening after Alejandro Grimaldo grabbed a late equaliser for Bayer Leverkusen in their 2-2 draw with the Magpies.

United went in at halftime 1-0 down after Bruno Guimaraes’ own goal but a spirited second half fightback saw them take a 2-1 lead after Anthony Gordon scored from the penalty spot and Lewis Miley headed Newcastle in front.

But Grimaldo’s late leveller was a real sucker punch, particularly after Gordon and Jacob Murphy had both hit the post in the second half, as another late goal cost Newcastle what would have been a priceless win on European soil.

Here are five things we learned from the BayArena.

Thiaw's kryptonite?

Malick Thiaw has not put a foot wrong all season but Patrik Schick gave him nightmares in the first half. It seemed as if Thiaw was instructed to man mark the Czech international forward but he couldn't get to grips with him and it was causing huge gaps in Newcastle’s backline that Leverkusen were exploiting.