Sandro Tonali has brought Newcastle an abundance of riches but perhaps foremost among them it is the rare ability to slow games down that offers Eddie Howe’s high-intensity team the sort of invaluable control they have so often lacked in recent months.
With the Italian once again imperious at the base of midfield as he ran through his Andrea Pirlo-esque repertoire of short and long passes, seamless interceptions and all-round superior vision, Newcastle were in front even before Jhon Durán’s controversial sending-off in the 32nd minute.
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