Newcastle: Howe relishing magic of ‘historic’ Barcelona fixture as Magpies seek Champions League consistency

Eddie Howe is anticipating an incredible atmosphere at St James’ Park when Newcastle United host Barcelona in their Champions League opener.

A meeting with the LaLiga champions represents a daunting start to Newcastle’s second Champions League campaign in three seasons, but it is also a fixture with great sentiment for the club.

The Magpies famously beat Barcelona 3-2 in the Champions League 28 years ago on Wednesday, with Faustino Asprilla scoring a hat-trick.

Additionally, there is an indelible link between the two clubs through the career of the late Sir Bobby Robson, who led Barcelona to Copa del Rey and European Cup Winners’ Cup glory in 1997 and later faced them as manager of boyhood club Newcastle in the 2002-03 Champions League.

Robson’s time at Barca was brief, but he was a key influence for Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho and also managed Luis Enrique in his season in charge at Camp Nou.

⚽ Barça will kick off their Champions League campaign with a trip to Newcastle United – a meeting between two clubs with little shared history, but one deeply significant link: 𝐒𝐢𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐧.

That history is sure to stir up plenty of emotion on Tyneside when the two clubs renew acquaintances, and Howe is eager to embrace the occasion.