HaydnNUFC Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 FC BARCELONA @ St. James' Park Trying something new for match threads for the Champions League. Whilst we have indeed played against 7 of the 8 clubs we are due to face before, the results aren't always great. There is one particular night however against these that lives long in the memory. Even for I, who wasn't alive for it and had just turned 2 years old when we last played them in the final match of the second group stage in March 2003; LAST TIME OUT? As mentioned above, Wednesday 19th March 2003. Final match of the second group stage, yes, there were 2 group stages in the early 00s. We got to the second one, qualifying from the first one in the last minute at Feyenoord. This second group featured for us games against Inter, Bayer Leverkusen and this lot. We took 6 points off Leverkusen, got hammered by Inter at SJP, lost at the Camp Nou 3-1 (with Shola scoring, chortle) but in the match preceding this we were unlucky not to win against Inter at the San Siro. This meant in order to qualify for the quarter finals we had to win and hope that Leverkusen, who were pointless and already out, could hold Inter in Germany. We fell 0-2, and Inter easily dispatched of the Schwartzroten. We would not return to the Champions League proper until 2023. The teams that night; NUFC: Given, Griffin, Bramble, O'Brien, Bernard, Dyer, Jenas, Solano, Robert, Bellamy, Shearer FCB: Valdes, Reiziger, De Boer, Andersson, Gabri, Mendieta, Motta, Xavi, Rochemback, Kluivert, Riquelme WHAT ABOUT THEM CURRENTLY? Barcelona are currently coming off the back of a La Liga and Copa del Rey double from last season and they reached the semi finals of the Champions League where against Inter they played out two quite canny games, though fell 7-6 on aggregate. Also in their first season under jorman Hansi Flick, replacing club legend Xavi, they scored 174 goals in all competitions last season which is frankly disgusting. This season they re enter Camp Nou following refurbishment and they enter this game from potentially 3 wins in 4 from a trio of away games at Mallorca, Levante and Rayo Vallecano and a their first game back at the refurbished Camp Nou against Valencia, which they play on Sunday at 7pm. They also have a new La Masia product called Lamine Yamal who apparently is alright at footy. Their most recent XI; J. Garcia, Kounde, E. Garcia, Christensen, Balde, F. De Jong, Pedri, Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha, Torres Coming off the bench were Rashford, Lewandowski, Fermin Lopez and Gerard Martin. ANY TIES BETWEEN THE CLUBS? Patrick Kluivert; Played for Barcelona from 1998-2004, 257 apps, 122 goals. Played for Newcastle United from 2004-05, 37 apps, 13 goals. Luuk De Jong (yes, really); Played for Newcastle United on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach from January-May 2014. 12 apps, 0 goals. Played for Barcelona on loan from Sevilla from 2021-22. 29 apps, 7 goals. Sir Bobby Robson; Managed Barcelona in the 1996-97 season, succeeding Johan Cruyff. Finished 2nd, won the Copa Del Rey, Cup Winners' Cup and Supercopa de Espana. Nurtured Jose Mourinho, signed Ronaldo Nazario. Moved to a directors role during the 1997-98 season before leaving to manage PSV Eindhoven. Managed Newcastle United from September 1999 to August 2004, succeeding Ruud Gullit. Revitalised Shearer's NUFC career, returned the club to the Champions League and led the club to 4th, 3rd and 5th placed finishes in 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04 respectively, our highest since 1996-97. Was replaced by Graeme Souness. @Village Idiot HOW WELL DO WE DO AGAINST SPANISH SIDES AT SJP? 2006-07: Won 2-1 v Celta Vigo (UEFA Cup) 2005-06: Lost 1-2 v Deportivo La Coruna (Intertoto Cup) 2003-04: Won 4-1 v Real Mallorca (UEFA Cup) 2002-03: Lost 0-2 v Barcelona (Champions League) 1997-98: Won 3-2 v Barcelona (Champions League) 1994-95: Won 3-2 v Athletic Club (UEFA Cup) 1968-69: Won 2-1 v Real Zaragoza (Inter Cities Fairs Cup) I'll end this match thread OP with the following quote from Bobby Robson, taken from an Athletic article on what it's like to manage NUFC. “There are parallels with Barcelona. It has the same geographical isolation, the same philosophy, the same fervour, the same vibrant love of football and what it means to the region, and a similarly voracious media.” Odds are against us like they were against PSG in 2023. But I back us at SJP against anyone on nights like this. What an atmosphere in store and what a night it could be. Howay the lads! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 Yamal doubtful apparently Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 Never heard of them Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenham Mag Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 Fantastic Haydn Same team as today but with Gordon in for Barnes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbandit Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 Just a 3-1 win for me please lads Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beren Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 Ameobi would have these for tea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danh1 Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 Would do untold thing for a ticket for this. Going to be some night. Big Nick 2-0. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 Champions League game on a Thursday? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 3 minutes ago, Fenham Mag said: Fantastic Haydn Same team as today but with Gordon in for Barnes. Elanga in for me as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Spaceman Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 3 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said: Elanga in for me as well. You not playing well like? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenham Mag Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 5 minutes ago, Danh1 said: Would do untold thing for a ticket for this. Going to be some night. Big Nick 2-0. Loads came up for resale 2 hours before kick off today, keep an eye on things and be lucky 👍🏼 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danh1 Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 4 minutes ago, Fenham Mag said: Loads came up for resale 2 hours before kick off today, keep an eye on things and be lucky 👍🏼 Shall do mate, fingers crossed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buzza Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 Tino, there's only one Tino!! Great to be able to repeat the Halloween chant again Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
500bhp Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 (edited) 2-1. Elanga and Tonali. Tino to mark out Yamal. Edited September 13, 2025 by 500bhp Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiLvOR Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 @HaydnNUFC - Outstanding effort for this thread lad, truly outdone yourself Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colos Short and Curlies Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 What a fucking thread title like. And the sandwich of games Wolves - Barcelona - Bournemouth. One looks a bit out of place Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteV Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 5 minutes ago, Colos Short and Curlies said: What a fucking thread title like. And the sandwich of games Wolves - Barcelona - Bournemouth. One looks a bit out of place In 97 it was Wimbledon - Barcelona - West Ham Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanegg Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 1 hour ago, Fenham Mag said: Loads came up for resale 2 hours before kick off today, keep an eye on things and be lucky 👍🏼 I’m very tempted to do the 4-hour drive up and chance it. Or, failing that, buy a ticket from some young kid from Dundee. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lush Vlad Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 I’d imagine Gordon will come in. Maybe Elanga? It would be a tough gig for Hall if he got the nod to start. But we do need to be mindful of Trippier’s minutes. Not necessarily what I’d want to see. But I reckon we might go 3 at the back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
janpawel Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 Wanted Wissa for this so him, Elanga and Gordon could torture their high line Woltegoal will do. Think we can disrupt their back 4 if Joelinton and him swap at times so Nick can retain the ball and lay it off to our rapid wingers, and Joelinton is a good target man and good at running in behind against a high line (thinking of that goal against Spurs at home) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Butcher Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 Into these Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaj Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 1 hour ago, Lush Vlad said: I’d imagine Gordon will come in. Maybe Elanga? It would be a tough gig for Hall if he got the nod to start. But we do need to be mindful of Trippier’s minutes. Not necessarily what I’d want to see. But I reckon we might go 3 at the back. I’ll trust Howe’s choices but would love to see us 4-3-3 and give it a real go. If we were away I would be happy with 5 at the back, but not at home Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexf Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 I'd love to see Yamal playing at st.james'. That's kind of what the champions league should all be about and why it's exciting to be in it. However for the sake of our best chance of getting something from the game, it's better that he doesn't play. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted September 13, 2025 Share Posted September 13, 2025 Into these greasy no ground, cava guzzling, fake crème brûlée cunts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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