Newcastle need iconic St James' Park night against Barcelona

Newcastle United supporters called it.

"Is this the way to Barcelona?" they repeatedly sang during the course of their side's victory against Qarabag on Tuesday night.

So it proved after Newcastle were drawn with the La Liga leaders in the last 16 of the Champions League.

There is plenty of history in this fixture, whether it is Sir Bobby Robson's links to both clubs or Tino Asprilla scoring an unforgettable hat-trick in Newcastle's win in 1997.

The current generation also know each other pretty well, of course.

Newcastle suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat against Barcelona in their opening game of the league phase at St James' Park back in September.

Although Barcelona dominated possession, as expected, Newcastle players and staff took a lot of belief from their display in the opening half an hour in particular, when the hosts spurned a number of opportunities to open the scoring.

While some supporters would have preferred to face Chelsea, the chance for Newcastle to test themselves against Barcelona, the five-time winners, in the knockout stages is the whole reason the club are in the competition.

The first leg at St James' naturally feels pivotal.

Newcastle would have rather have had the return fixture back on Tyneside but if Eddie Howe's team are to stand any chance of going through, they need one of those nights on home soil before the return fixture at the Nou Camp.

No wonder Howe labelled it a "mouth-watering" prospect.