"You couldn't not watch that game. It was on terrestrial television. It was one of those legendary games. You want people in future years to be talking about this team. Tino Asprilla gets the hat-trick, a couple of them from Keith Gillespie's delivery on the right. I want our players to be talked about in the same way in 20, 30, 40 years."
"Newcastle have faced Barcelona five times before in Europe, with each of those coming in UEFA's flagship competition. The Magpies' only victory came in the first clash, 3-2 at home in the group stages in September 1997, with Barcelona winning each of the following four games."
"Newcastle are on their longest ever unbeaten run in the Champions League (five matches - W3 D2), and have only lost one of their last nine games in the competition (W6 D2)."
Newcastle United prepare to face Barcelona in the Champions League last 16 first leg at St. James' Park. This marks their second meeting this season, following Barcelona's 2-1 league phase victory. Newcastle's only previous win against Barcelona came in September 1997 when Faustino Asprilla scored a hat-trick in a 3-2 home victory. Manager Eddie Howe references this legendary match as inspiration, urging his players to deliver a similarly memorable performance that will be remembered for decades. Newcastle have won both their previous Champions League victories against Spanish opposition at home and currently maintain their longest unbeaten run in the competition with five consecutive matches.
Read at Soccer News
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