An ex-Manchester United player will be keen on continuing his good record against Premier League sides when facing Newcastle United tonight
Matej Kovar, goalkeeper of PSV Eindhoven, celebrates after his team won the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven
Matej Kovar will hope to earn another victory against English opponents in tonight's clash against Newcastle United(Image: Getty Images)
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Matej Kovar has emerged victorious in a number of encounters against Premier League sides since departing Manchester United. Now he's hoping to repeat the feat against Newcastle United in the Champions League.
Kovar and his PSV side will take on the Magpies at St James' Park this evening in a match that could see Eddie Howe's side leapfrog into the league's automatic qualification spots. Kovar is well accustomed to English football having arrived at Newcastle as a 17-year-old in 2018 from Czech outfit 1. FC Slovacko, remaining under contract at the club for the following five years.
Besides featuring for Manchester United's development squads, the shot-stopper embarked on three loan spells with lower-division English clubs as well as Czech powerhouses Sparta Prague.
In 2023, Erik ten Hag sanctioned his exit in a £7.7million transfer to Bayer Leverkusen – then managed by Xabi Alonso – where he served as the German club's reserve keeper for the subsequent two campaigns.
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Whilst he managed only two Bundesliga outings during his stint with Leverkusen, he featured in 12 of their 13 Europa League matches, including their 3-0 final reverse against Atalanta.
During their journey to the showpiece, Leverkusen faced West Ham in the quarter-finals, ultimately overcoming the Hammers 3-1 across both legs. Kovar's spell in Germany concluded last summer when then-Leverkusen manager Ten Hag once more facilitated his departure by arranging a loan move to PSV Eindhoven, with the Dutch heavyweights securing the transfer permanently this month.
Matej Kovar of PSV Eindhoven controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield
Matej Kovar started PSV's stunning 4-1 victory against Liverpool at Anfield in November(Image: DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
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Kovar last encountered English opposition in November when his team made the trip to Anfield to face Liverpool. He remained on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as PSV secured one of the most memorable triumphs in their club's history, demolishing the reigning Premier League champions 4-1 on home soil.
The Czech international now has the chance to maintain his flawless record against English top-flight sides as PSV make the journey to Newcastle United this evening.
The Magpies sit 13th in the league phase table and are currently on course to advance to knockout phase play-offs. However, with only five points separating 18 teams, they may need to pick up points against PSV and Paris Saint-Germain in their last game to confirm their passage to the next round.
Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team's second goal from the penalty spot with teammate Anthony Elanga during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between R. Union Saint-Gilloise and Newcastle United FC
Anthony Gordon has scored a club-high five goals in the Champions League this season(Image: Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)
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After completing his transfer to Leverkusen, Kovar discussed his choice to join Manchester United as a youngster, acknowledging that representing the Premier League giants was a "childhood dream"..
In an interview with Rheinische Post in 2023, he explained: "It wasn't an easy decision to leave everything behind at that age: the country, my friends, my family. But when Manchester United calls, you don't have to think long.
"For me, a childhood dream came true. I had to take that chance." Whilst he's now settled in Eindhoven, he's previously expressed his openness to returning to Old Trafford in the years ahead.
He continued: "I was there for five years, enjoyed the time, met a lot of great people and matured as a goalkeeper and a person. I'm grateful for the experiences. Of course, there were ups and downs, but they're part of life. Maybe I'll come back one day, that would be nice."
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