Newcastle United Duos: Moussa Sissoko and Georginio Wijnaldum
They were only together for a season, but Moussa Sissoko and Georginio Wijnaldum made a quality tandem in the midfield for Newcastle United.
Typically, when a club gets relegated, the season is as stricken from the record as possible. But, for the 2015-16 Newcastle United season, there were some positives like Rafa Benitez’s late-season arrival. Another good thing that year was the midfield pairing of Moussa Sissoko and Georginio Wijnaldum. For our latest edition of Newcastle United Duos, we look at the tandem’s only year together in the black and white.
Sissoko was entering his fourth season with Newcastle United when Gini arrived from PSV Eindhoven in July 2015.
During the 2015-16 season, primarily on the left side of the midfield, Wijnaldum played in every single match, starting in 36 of those 38 EPL matches. Opposite him in the midfield, Sissoko missed one match with a groin injury, but he started in 37 Premier League fixtures. Gini racked up 11 goals and five assists and Sissoko added eight assists and one goal.
Gini scored in his debut against Southampton and had a historic four-goal performance in a 6-2 win over Norwich City.
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Down the stretch, the Magpies went six straight matches without a loss. Sissoko served as the captain for a few of those fixtures and scored his lone goal against Swansea City in the first match of that run.
In the season finale, Wijnaldum and Sissoko played starring roles in the 5-1 win over Spurs. Gini scored the opening goal before Sissoko assisted on Aleksandar Mitrovic’s goal to put NUFC up 2-0. Sissoko drew a penalty and Wijnaldum converted, securing Sissoko’s second assist and Wijnaldum’s second goal.
Unfortunately, Newcastle United would head down to the Championship. Sissoko departed for Spurs after the season and Wijnaldum left for Liverpool. Both players remain with those clubs.
Make sure to check out our other articles on NUFC Duos: Ba and Cisse, Ferdinand and Ginola, Rondon and Perez, Coloccini and Williamson, Beardsley and Cole, Ben Arfa and Cabaye.