Daniel Wales reports from St. James’ Park as Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe says he cannot wait to experience the “atmosphere” inside St. James’ Park as his side prepare to face Spanish giants Barcelona in a huge Champions League fixture. Also previewing the tie were Newcastle Captain, Bruno Guimarães, and Barcelona Head Coach, Hansi Flick.
00:00Preparations are well underway for Newcastle United as they get ready to host Spanish Giants Barcelona at St James' Park on Thursday evening in what is their first match of this season's Champions League campaign.
00:15The Magpies will still be without forward Johan Wisser, who is yet to train with his new club following a knee injury sustained on international duty, and Jacob Ramsey, who is recovering from an ankle issue picked up at Elendrode against Leeds United.
00:32Apart from that, Eddie Howe has a full squad to choose from to put up against the Catalan side.
00:37As for Hansi Flick's Barcelona, star man Lamin Yemal has not travelled to the north-east of England due to injury in what is welcome news for Newcastle.
00:48Barcelona do, however, still boast talents such as Robert Lewandowski, Rafinha and Marcus Rashford, who is on loan from Manchester United.
00:57As was experienced two years ago, the Champions League brings a certain majesty to St James' Park that will grip all those of a black-and-white persuasion with European fever.
01:08The atmosphere under the light in the heart of the city centre is always a spectacle to behold.
01:14Now, this will actually be the reigning Spanish champions' third visit to Tyneside in the history of this competition, with the first of which on a September evening in 1997, nearly 28 years ago exactly,
01:28and on the same night that Oasis performed a short distance away at the arena, being one that has lived long in the memory.
01:34Howstino Asprea's hat-trick, with two of his three goals, being headers assisted by Keith Gillespie, saw Newcastle win 3-2 in what was their first ever match in the Champions League.
01:46Now, though, it is the time for new history and new memories, as Eddie Howe and Bruno Gubaraes made clear.
01:53It is a historic fixture. I think it's one that, as soon as we realised, we were drawn against Barcelona.
01:59It had a sort of a magical feel to it. I think it'll be an amazing game to experience.
02:08Yeah, obviously, we've been focusing on the tactical preparation and making sure we deliver a good performance.
02:13And, yeah, I'm really excited to sample the atmosphere. I think that will just be an incredible thing again.
02:19I think for this individual game, which is all we can focus on, is trying to get a positive result.
02:23It's trying to prepare the players for the game.
02:24And we've, in part, done that yesterday and today, and we've still got some preparations to finish off.
02:32We're looking forward to seeing how we play against them and how we match up as a team.
02:36Certainly, a lot of confidence now restored to the group, having won on Saturday.
02:41I'm very excited. I've never faced Barcelona before.
02:45It's one of the team that I watched when I was young and was the player that made me feel in love with football was Ronaldinho.
02:53So, I always watch Barcelona play.
02:56And after Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, and it's nice to see another Brazilian shine there again, Rafinha.
03:02So, I think we're very excited. I can't wait to get tomorrow and play this game.
03:07I'm always looking to make a history with this club.
03:10It's nice to be in the Champions League two times in the last three.
03:15It's unbelievable for us. So, yeah, we have to keep going.
03:17A lot of the job to do here yet. So, yeah, we can't wait to get tomorrow and I'm very happy to be part of this club.
03:26Meanwhile, Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick was very complimentary of the atmosphere and opposition his side were about to face.
03:34I was, I was never, I was never here in this city.
03:40But what I heard from my player, it's one of the best, maybe the best atmosphere here in the Premier League.
03:47And I expect really a strong team, tall team with a high intensity, with a lot of dynamic, going the second balls vertically, they are playing really good.
03:59So, it's a team now they've built over the last years and Eddie Howell really and his coaching staff made a fantastic job.
04:09The meeting of these two clubs also draws links to the late Sir Bobby Robson, who famously managed both of them.
04:17Doubtless, he will be watching on with fondness as the two sides look to get their Champions League campaigns off to the best possible start.
04:25Everything is now set then.
04:27St James's Park is the stage and all of the players are assembled.
04:31Echoes of 97 still linger, but this Newcastle side are taking new leaps into the unknown and attempting to rub shoulders with the elite.
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