Newcastle take on Barcelona this evening and it is a fixture which means a lot to former goalkeeper Shay Given
Former Newcastle United star Shay Given played against Barcelona in 1997, and will be at St James' Park tonight
Former Newcastle United star Shay Given played against Barcelona in 1997, and will be at St James' Park tonight
Shay Given played for Newcastle United 463 times and played in some of the most successful Magpies sides of the modern era.
But ask him what his most special memory of playing at St James' Park is and the answer is simple. The night they beat Barcelona 3-2 in the 1997/98 Champions League.
Given had just joined the club that summer from Blackburn Rovers as a 21-year-old and was brought in by manager Kenny Dalglish to compete with Shaka Hislop to be Newcastle's number one.
He got the nod to start that night as Tino Asprilla's hat-trick inspired Newcastle to a famous win over the Spanish giants.
Fast forward 28 years and Newcastle's first game of the 2025/26 Champions League sees them take on Barcelona again and, naturally, it has taken everybody associated with the club back down memory lane.
Given is no different and while he made the third most appearances of any Newcastle player ever, it is that night that stands above all else when he reflects on his 11-and-a-half years on Tyneside.
“It was just incredible. It was the best atmosphere at St James’ Park that I played in," Given, who will be at the game on Thursday working as a pundit for TNT Sports, exclusively told Chronicle Live.
“I was only four or five games into my Newcastle career so I was very young at the time but to hear the Champions League music against the mighty Barcelona was just incredible.
“Nobody gave us much of a chance beforehand so it was a very special memory that night. The atmosphere was just electric. It was so special.
“Kenny in general was very relaxed in the dressing room beforehand. He was trying to keep everyone chilled before a big game. We obviously didn’t need much motivational talk before a game like that.
“Newcastle being back in the Champions League, looking back now, the build-up was just phenomenal. I played 463 times for Newcastle and that is the standout game.
“The two FA Cup semi-finals were right up there because we won them but for Champions League nights, that was the best memory for me.”
Shay Given during Newcastle's win over Barcelona
Shay Given during Newcastle's win over Barcelona in 1997
Given was also part of the Sir Bobby Robson team that also faced Barcelona in the Champions League in the 2002/03 season.
Now it is over to Eddie Howe's class of 2025 to write their own history against the Spanish champions, just as they did with their famous 4-1 win over PSG two years ago.
Given was also working as a pundit that night and he is hopeful of seeing a repeat performance when Hansi Flick's side rock up on Tyneside on Thursday.
“There was a huge history with Bobby and Barcelona," Given added. "Barcelona is one of the heavyweights of the Champions League and Thursday will be no different.
“They will probably be turning up like 28 years ago thinking it will be an easy win for them but I don’t think that will be the case at all.
“The crowd will always play a big part, both 28 years ago and on Thursday. The atmosphere is going to be electric. You could shout at someone two yards away on that night and he wouldn’t have been able to hear you. The noise was literally banging and I think the lads on Thursday will experience the same thing.
“I was lucky enough two years ago to cover the PSG game and the place was absolutely bouncing and it was a memory for the new crop of young fans. They will remember PSG two years ago where it was just an incredible night.
“It is the start of a new Champions League campaign and they will be looking to get up and running with a win, albeit it is not going to be an easy game.”
Newcastle were knocked out at the group stage two seasons ago after being drawn in a group alongside PSG, Borussia Dortmund - who reached the final that season - and AC Milan.
This time around the Champions League will be a 36-team league phase where the top 24 teams advance to the knockout rounds and Given feels the new format will suit Newcastle down to the ground.
“The intensity they play with and the extra home game, there’s a lot of positives with the new league campaign. I really enjoyed last season and the likes of Celtic had some big results at home.
“I think Newcastle will be similar. Home form in this format is crucial. It is a wee bit different, a bit more mixture and a lot more excitement as there’s still a lot to play for in the closing fixtures, whereas in the old format the last game was often a dead rubber. I think it will go down to the wire.”
Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal is a doubt for the game, having missed Sunday's 6-0 win over Valencia. The teenage phenomenon is arguably the best player in the world right now and Given thinks Newcastle fans will be disappointed if he isn't lining up against them on Thursday evening.
“You can look at it either way," Given added.
"It would be great if he was there. I remember Newcastle fans clapping Patrick Kluivert off the pitch when he was playing for Barcelona.
“The Newcastle public wants to face the best Barcelona at St James’ Park and not with a couple of stars missing so for me, now, as a pundit and as a fan it is exciting to see these players in the flesh right in front of you.
“He is obviously an unbelievably talented player and I am sure the Newcastle fans will want to see him on Thursday and they will want to see him on the losing side as well.”
Watch Newcastle play Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League live and exclusive on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+. Coverage starts from 7pm on Thursday.