Benfica's last visit to Newcastle was a sliding doors moment in the club's modern history
Players line-up before the Europa League quarter final second leg match between Newcastle United and SL Benfica at St James' Park in 2013
Players line-up before the Europa League quarter final second leg match between Newcastle United and SL Benfica at St James' Park in 2013
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When Newcastle United line up against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, it will evoke memories of the famous clash between the sides in the 2012/13 Europa League quarter-final.
It has been 12-and-a-half years since the two sides have locked horns in European competition but it is a night at St James' Park that still has Newcastle fans pondering 'what if?'
It was perhaps even the defining night of a four-year period under Mike Ashley's controversial reign as United owner where there was genuine hope Newcastle could re-establish themselves as a force on the domestic and European scene.
Having won promotion from the Championship in the 2009/10 season under Chris Hughton, Newcastle cemented their place in the Premier League the following season under Hughton and then Alan Pardew. Some smart recruitment, driven by former chief scout Graham Carr, saw Pardew mould a brilliant Newcastle team in the summer of 2011.
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The guile of Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye were matched by the grit of Cheick Tiote, the energy of Jonas Gutierrez and the goals of Demba Ba. A back four of Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini and Davide Santon, as well as a goalkeeper Tim Krul, provided a solid spine and then the January addition of Papiss Cisse saw him score goals for Newcastle at an incredible rate.
As a result, Newcastle challenged the 'big six' in the 2011/12 season and they took the race to qualify for the Champions League until the final game of the season, ultimately finishing fifth in the Premier League table.
That secured their place in the Europa League in the 2012/13 season and while the club's summer recruitment, or lack of it, saw them fade away in the Premier League, they thrived in the Europa League.
United finished top of a group that consisted of French side Bordeaux, Belgian giants Club Brugge and Portuguese outfit Maritimo. Shola Ameobi then scored the decisive goal to see off Metalist Kharkiv of Ukraine in the last 32.
A last-16 clash against big spending Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala followed, where Newcastle survived baltic conditions in Moscow to emerge with a 0-0 draw before a last-minute Cisse winner in the return leg set up a quarter-final clash against Benfica.
More than 3,200 Newcastle fans made the trip to Lisbon for the first leg and they were rewarded for their travels when Cisse fired them ahead at the Estadio Da Luz in the 12th minute.
Goals from Rodrigo, Lima and Oscar Cardozo saw Benfica come from behind to win 3-1 but with an away goal bagged and a return leg at St James' Park a week later, Newcastle were confident they could turn the tide back in their favour.
"One of my favourite games was away at Benfica," ex-Newcastle defender Danny Simpson told Chronicle Live.
"The atmosphere, I couldn’t believe it. We lost 3-1, got an away goal and I think Tayls might have handballed it. We brought them back to St James’ and when you do that you just think you’ve got a chance. Even when you are two goals down on aggregate."
Teenage midfielder Gael Bigirimana was on the fringes of the first team that season after a summer move from Coventry City and on the eve of the second leg, Pardew called the youngster into his office at the club's Benton training base with a specific instruction.
Hatem Ben Arfa (L) and Gael Bigirimana (R) the day before Newcastle's Europa League quarter-final against Benfica
Hatem Ben Arfa (L) and Gael Bigirimana (R) the day before Newcastle's Europa League quarter-final against Benfica(Image: 2013 Newcastle United)
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"The first leg against Benfica I was in the stands and we got beat 3-1 and obviously at that time an away goal was huge," Bigirimana told Chronicle Live.
"The day before the second leg, the manager Alan Pardew brought me into his office before training started and said I am going to play you as a right-midfielder because their left-back [Lorenzo Melgarejo] is quite attacking.
"He said: ‘All I want you to do is to help us get to half-time without conceding a goal. If we get to half-time and it is 0-0 or we are winning 1-0 then your job is done’.
"I was there to do a job for the club. I was a servant of the club and although sometimes you are thinking I can do more than that, it was about the team and I understood my task and I understood what was required of me and my role. I look back and think for the manager to show the trust in me and think I was reliable at such a young age, it shows I always gave my best for the club."
A sell-out crowd packed into St James' Park, including a healthy away following from Benfica. A cagey first half ended 0-0 and it was 'job done' for Bigirimana, who limited Benfica's ability to create chances down their left-hand side.
And he almost created the goal which put Newcastle ahead when his centre was converted by Cisse, only for the former Senegal international's strike to scuppered by the assistant's flag.
"I remember I put in a cross and Papiss scored but it was ruled out for offside," Bigirimana added. "I was doing really well on the ball as well but obviously because they didn’t get a goal in the first half, Shola came on so we brought on more attacking players to push for the two goals we needed.
"The experience was incredible and the atmosphere at St James’ Park was electrifying. I am grateful for playing in those games and getting that experience of European football but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be on the night."
With game finely poised at 0-0, Newcastle went for broke in the second half, bringing on Ameobi, as well as wingers Ben Arfa and Sylvain Marveaux as they went in search of a winner.
Cisse had a second goal disallowed before eventually firing Newcastle ahead in the 71st minute as he headed home from Ameobi's cross.
Papiss Cisse (C) of Newcastle celebrates his goal during the UEFA Europa League quarter final second leg match between Newcastle United and SL Benfica
Papiss Cisse (C) of Newcastle celebrates his goal during the UEFA Europa League quarter final second leg match between Newcastle United and SL Benfica
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Ben Arfa was causing Benfica loads of problems and with Newcastle knowing a 2-0 win would have sent them through on away goals, they needed just one more goal to book their place in the semi-finals.
And that chance fell to the Frenchman, who managed to cut inside from the right-wing on his left foot before firing over the bar. It was the type of chance he had taken on a number of occasions during his time at the club but his miss would prove to be costly, as Benfica broke forward at the other end and Eduardo Salvio scored the stoppage time equaliser that punched their ticket into the semi-finals.
"Hatem had a chance and I feel like if we had got that second and went 2-0 up and it was 3-3 we would go through to the semi-final," Simpson added. "With the atmosphere at St James’ and the fans pushing us like they do, we really believed we would get through to the semis. It just wasn’t meant to be and we just fell short."
Benfica beat Turkish side Fenerbahce in the semi-finals before losing 2-1 to a Chelsea side managed by Rafa Benitez in the final in Amsterdam. For that Newcastle team, though, it almost felt like the end of a journey and a chance missed for a talented Magpies side to properly cement their place in the club's history.
"When I look back, I think the manager handled Europe and the league quite well actually because it’s tough when you don't have a massive squad," Simpson argued.
"To get to the quarter-finals and push them so close, especially a team like that, that was so experienced in Europe, and we were novices compared to it, I thought it was two really special years, to be honest."
Danny Simpson (L) and Tim Krul of Newcastle talk after the UEFA Europa League quarter final second leg match between Newcastle United and SL Benfica
Danny Simpson (L) and Tim Krul of Newcastle talk after the UEFA Europa League quarter final second leg match between Newcastle United and SL Benfica
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Simpson left Newcastle that summer to join QPR on a free transfer. Pardew left the club 18 months later to become manager of Crystal Palace.
The way Newcastle's form fizzled out towards the end of his tenure clouded over the positive memories of his reign. It took Newcastle 10 seasons to qualify for Europe again by finishing fourth in the 2022/23 season and Bigirimana is 'thankful' to Pardew for the 'precious' memories that his side created.
"There was a bit of a grey cloud and people would say: ‘We’ve been Pardewed’," Bigirimana said. "I just want to make it clear that I am thankful to Mr Pardew. He signed me and gave me lots of opportunities when he didn’t have to.
"There were other players he could have picked and other things he could have decided to do but I am thankful that he trusted me to give me the experiences I gained.
"Nobody can erase them and as little as they were, they were precious. We didn’t do as well as we should have at that time but we reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League. We had so much capability to do better with the team that we had."
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew (L) looks on during the Europa League quarter-final second leg against Benfica
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew (L) looks on during the Europa League quarter-final second leg against Benfica
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"Newcastle has such a huge fanbase and an amazing stadium," Bigirimana finished. "Those types of matches in the Europa League and the Champions League are what a club of that size should be aiming to be involved in.
"It is fantastic for the city, for the area, for the people that Newcastle is playing in such a high level competition. That is why the club can only continue to get better and attract stronger players."
Fast forward to the present day and the two sides will lock horns again at St James' Park, this time in the Champions League, and with the added subplot that Benfica are now managed by 'The Special One', Jose Mourinho.
Newcastle head into the game with three points from their opening two matches, while Benfica arrive on Tyneside still in search of their first win in the competition after defeats to Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
It promises to be a special atmosphere at St James' Park once again, and if Eddie Howe's Newcastle side are to finish in the top 24 places that ensures their qualification to the knockout stages, Simpson feels they have to take advantage of that atmosphere.
"I think now, with the team they’ve got now and the games they have - Benfica, [Athletic Bilbao] and PSV at home - they have got to look at that and think they have to get six points, with no disrespect to those two teams," Simpson added.
"I would love to be up there for the night games because the night games up there are just special."
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