Soccer

Remembering the night Newcastle United slayed mighty Barcelona in first-ever Champions League game

DAZN

18, Sep

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Newcastle United face Barcelona at St James’ Park tonight in one of the games of the opening round of this season’s Champions League fixtures.

The match evokes memories of when the Magpies, inspired by Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla’s brilliant hat-trick, famously downed Barca 3-2 in one of the most magical nights in the club’s history.

As Eddie Howe’s side prepare to lock horns with the Spanish champions, DAZN News looks back on Newcastle’s iconic Champions League victory on Tyneside in September 1997.

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Background

During the summer of 1997, David Ginola and Les Ferdinand had been sold to Tottenham Hotspur while in a pre-season friendly, Alan Shearer sustained a horrific ankle injury which would keep him out for half the season.

Newcastle manager Kenny Dalglish had signed goalkeeper Shay Given, midfielder Temur Ketsbaia along with two Liverpool legends, John Barnes and Ian Rush.

Dalglish guided the Magpies to second place in the 1996-97 Premier League, bringing the reward of a Champions League qualifier against Croatia Zagreb (now Dinamo Zagreb).

Newcastle came through a qualifier against Dinamo Zagreb 4-3 on aggregate courtesy of Temuri Ketsbaia's extra-time goal in Croatia to reach the group phase.

First up was a visit from Barcelona on Wednesday, September 17, 1997 in a four-team group that also contained Dynamo Kyiv and PSV Eindhoven.

The match

There was a huge buzz around St James' Park hours before kick-off and, down the road at Newcastle Arena, chart-toppers Oasis were playing the second of two high-profile shows.

The Magpies, in their first-ever game in the Champions League group stages, faced a Barcelona side that had Luis Figo, Rivaldo and Luis Enrique in their ranks and were managed by Louis van Gaal.

Barca went on to win La Liga that season and were European heavyweights.

Yet they could not cope with the intensity of Newcastle’s first-half display at a febrile St James’ Park, which then had a capacity of 36,000.

Barcelona were missing captain Pep Guardiola though injury and Newcastle were soon on top of them.

Tomasson played Asprilla in on goal midway through the first half with a slide-rule pass.

He tumbled under the challenge of Barca goalkeeper goalkeeper Ruud Hesp. and Pierluigi Collina pointed to the spot.

Asprilla converted the penalty himself and Dalglish's side doubled their lead just past the half-hour mark with a goal of beautiful simplicity.

Gillespie hared down the right and curled a perfect cross for Asprilla to attack at the near post with a thumping header.

Four minutes into the second half the hosts were three up, Gillespie again leaving Sergi in his wake before dispatching another centre for Asprilla to head in for his hat-trick – and customary cartwheel.

The visitors could contain neither Gillespie nor Asprilla and the pair combined again soon after before Hesp denied the South American a fourth.

Gradually, though, Barcelona stirred and a neat move involving Rivaldo and Figo was turned in at close range by Luis Enrique on 73 minutes.

Given then thwarted Rivaldo after a sumptuous turn and shot by the Brazilian, who then curled a free-kick against the bar.

A second Barcelona goal from Figo ensured a tense finale but the hosts held on for a famous win – this was Newcastle and Asprilla's night.

The reaction

Asprilla later revealed he almost missed the match after partying in South America shortly before the game.

“I’d been away on international duty, but instead of going back to Newcastle I went to my ranch and had a party with lots of girls,” he told Four Four Two.

“Kenny Dalglish was furious, but I will never forget the Newcastle fans singing my name.

“I didn’t understand them as it was in Geordie, but I could still tell that they were really happy!”

Signed from Parma in 1996 for £6.7m, Asprilla scored 18 goals in 63 games for the club before returning to the Italian club in January 1998.