Newcastle United play a home game in the Champions League for the first time since 2003 this week.
The Magpies kicked off their Champions League campaign brilliantly earlier this month, drawing 0-0 with AC Milan at the San Siro.
Now Newcastle are preparing to welcome Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain to St James’ Park, where Kylian Mbappe and co will be hoping they can make it two victories on the bounce after winning their opener against Borussia Dortmund.
It is going to be a special night on Tyneside, as Eddie Howe takes charge of the first Newcastle home game in the Champions League since 2003.
The Magpies were beaten on penalties in a qualifier by Partizan Belgrade back in August 2003, but their last proper UCL game at St James’ Park was on March 19th 2003.
Newcastle played against Barcelona at St James’ Park in the Champions League in 2003
During the 2002/03 Champions League, there were two group stages.
Newcastle dramatically made it through the first, despite losing their first three games. However, they would win the return fixtures against Juventus, Dynamo Kyiv and Feyenoord to advance to the next round.
In the second group stage, the Magpies were in the group of death alongside Barcelona, Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.
Having picked up seven points from five games, Newcastle went into the final fixture needing a win at home to Barcelona and for results to go their way to advance to the knockout stages.
Sadly for Sir Bobby Robson’s side, that did not happen. The Magpies were beaten 2-0 by the La Liga giants courtesy of goals from Patrick Kluivert and Thiago Motta.
The starting XI from Newcastle’s last home game in the Champions League
Shay Given: One of Newcastle’s best ever goalkeepers, Given is now a pundit and also serves as a club ambassador for the Magpies.
Andy Griffin: The defender scored one of Newcastle’s most famous European goals, netting the winner against Juventus earlier in the competition.
Andy O’Brien: Who put the ball in the Mackems net…
Titus Bramble: This was a night to forget for Bramble, who was at fault for Kluivert’s opener.
Olivier Bernard: The French left-back was the only Newcastle player who was booked during the 2-0 loss to Barcelona.
Nolberto Solano: A Toon icon who actually had two spells with Newcastle United and is still loved on Tyneside.
Kieron Dyer: Best known for that scrap with Lee Bowyer, Dyer did a different kind of fighting on this night as he gave everything he had up against a talented Barcelona midfield.
Jermaine Jenas: He was just 20-years-old at the time, but manager Sir Bobby Robson was a huge fan of the midfielder.
Laurent Robert: One of the greatest Frenchmen to ever play for Newcastle United, Robert also represented the Magpies’ upcoming opponents PSG.
Craig Bellamy: The Welshman was the reason Newcastle played against Barcelona, having netted a late winner against Feyenoord to qualify for the second group phase.
Alan Shearer: Wor Al was Newcastle’s top scorer in the Champions League that season, scoring seven goals.
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