Head coach Eddie Howe has challenged his Newcastle United players to seize the moment and follow in the footsteps of the side who defeated Barcelona in 1997. Newcastle will meet Barca in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at St James' Park on Tuesday night. The fixture stirs memories of Tino Asprilla's hat-trick and the night Newcastle stunned the La Liga giants in the old group phase. "I want our players to be talked about in the same way in 20, 30, 40 years." The current sides met in the league phase back in September on a night Newcastle were defeated 2-1 on Tyneside.

Source: BBC March 10, 2026 00:48 UTC