Just as they did in 1997–98, Barcelona begin their Champions League campaign at St. James’ Park. They’ll want a different outcome on Thursday night, though.
A Faustino Asprilla hat-trick sunk the Blaugrana on their first visit to Tyneside 28 years ago, and while Barça have won all three subsequent meetings, Hansi Flick is well aware of the upoming challenge at his team’s disposal.
St. James’ will be rocking under the lights, and the mettle of the majestic La Liga champions will doubtless be tested by tens of thousands of barmy Georgies.
The visitors are without a few key faces for their Champions League opener, but they refused to skip a beat at the weekend, as they thrashed Valencia 6–0 in La Liga. Here’s the Barcelona XI Flick could pick on Thursday night.
