Faustino Asprilla scores his hat-trick with his head against Barcelona in 1997. Photo: Allsport/Getty Images/Stu Forster
Champions Newcastle United Paris Saint-Germain's dismantling of the Championship was one of the greatest results in the club's history, but where does it rank among other famous performances of the modern era?
The noise at St James's Park fills the stadium. Miguel Almiron started the rout with a clever strike at the far post after Gianluigi Donnarumma had saved Alexander Isak's initial effort.
PSG were stunned and constantly concerned by the intensity and energy of Newcastle's pressing.
The Parisians wanted to slow the game down, play good passing plays and dominate possession. They succeeded in the latter, but were constantly forced to make mistakes and repeatedly exposed to Newcastle's speed and power.
They were not used to playing games like this in League 1 and succumbed to the pressure in front of the striker. Geordie crowd.
And the celebrations lasted for a long time, turning into an unforgettable night as manager Eddie Howe cemented his status as one of the club's most celebrated managers.
Only the likes of Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson have achieved anything quite like this good. They used to be called King Kev and Sir Bobby. Well, rise up, Emperor Eddie.
So where does this night rank among Newcastle's great moments?
5. Newcastle — Juventus 0 — October 2002
Juventus were one of the most formidable teams in Europe and were undefeated when they arrived at St James' Park. Few gave Newcastle a chance, but they pummeled the Italians in the opening few minutes and the crowd could smell the blood. This became the hallmark of the game under Robson: direct attacking football with supposedly shaky defense, rather than maintaining one's position throughout the match.
The goal's unlikely scorer was Laurent Robert's surprise free-kick just outside the penalty area by defender Andy Griffin. Griffin lowered his head and fired past legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
When Robson called this one of his greatest victories as a manager, it deserves respect and a place on the list.
Andy Griffin (center) is surrounded by a crowd of teammates after his winning goal against Juventus. Photo: Reuters/Jeff J Mitchell 4. Newcastle 5 Manchester United 0 — October 1996
Cynics will argue it was little more than a consolation prize after Sir Alex Ferguson's side led them to the Premier League title the previous season. But what a consolation prize it was!
Newcastle performed magnificently and completely destroyed the defending champions, with club record scorer Alan Shearer scoring his fourth goal against the club he had abandoned that summer.
Manchester United simply did not suffer such defeats at the peak of their careers. The fifth goal, a magnificent goal from Philippe Albert, became one of the most iconic in the club's history: goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel watched helplessly as the ball flew over his head and fell neatly into the net.
3. Feyenoord — Newcastle — 3 — November 2002
Newcastle became the first team in Champions League history to lose their first three group stage games and still qualify from their group, and they did it in brilliant fashion. Feyenoord managed to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat in the frantic atmosphere of Rotterdam, but Newcastle were not to be denied. That they were not content with a place in the UEFA Cup was testament to their spirit and youthful effort.
During stoppage time, Kieron Dyer burst into the penalty area and when his shot was cleared, the loose ball was left behind. somehow squeezed in from the tightest angle by Craig Bellamy. For the first time in the club's history, Newcastle looked like they truly belonged in such a scene.
Craig Bellamy beat recent winner Newcastle in Rotterdam. Photo: Reuters/Guido Beschop 2. Newcastle 4 PSG 1 – October 2023
They won’t forget this either. PSG were defeated and supposedly the strongest team in their Champions League group was sent packing with their tails between their legs.
PSG are no longer the expensive team of superstars they once were after the departure of Neymar and Lionel Messi. summer, but it made a huge impression on Howe's part.
The result was so remarkable because three of the four scorers — Almiron, Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schar — were players he inherited when he took over. They only had relegation battles in the Premier League before Howe elevated them to Champions League level. Another goalscorer, Dan Byrne, was also signed for just £12 million to help the team avoid relegation in 2022. It symbolized the complete transformation of the team under a brilliant and much-loved manager who was bold and courageous and won top honors. .
1. Newcastle — Barcelona 2 — September 1997
This is a very controversial point, and there are certainly arguments in favor of the fact that the victory over PSG was even better, given that the opponents had best player in the world Kylian Mbappe.
But it was against one of Europe's undisputed powerhouses in Newcastle's first Champions League game.
It was a night that belonged to maverick Tino Asprilla, who scored a stunning goal. stunt and announced Newcastle onto the European stage. It was very impressive to leave and it marked the high point of the Entertainer era on Tyneside. Whenever there is a conversation about Newcastle United in Europe, everyone remembers this particular game.
🎁🎂 Faustino Asprilla 🎂🎁
In 1997 @ Tinoasprilla scored a hat-trick as Newcastle United beat Barcelona 3-2 on a memorable night at St James's. Park ⚽️⚽️⚽️@NUFC | #HBD | #UCL pic.twitter.com/fgTR2W023Q
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 10, 2021
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