Newcastle United have a record they will be very keen to preserve against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday night.
The Magpies are back in Champions League action after a run of three consecutive Premier League games.
They head to Germany to face Bayer Leverkusen, aiming to bounce back from their frustrating defeat to Marseille in their previous European encounter.
It will be a very tough game for Newcastle United, with Bayer Leverkusen just one point behind the Magpies in the table. They have won their last two Champions League games, and will leapfrog Eddie Howe’s side if they make it a hat-trick.
For the Newcastle United manager, he will hope that history is on his side.
Throwback time! Name the two players missing from the Newcastle XI that beat Bayer Leverkusen in February 2003!
Top marks if you can remember the centre-midfielder…
Newcastle United have a 100% record against Bayer Leverkusen
Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen have actually only ever played against each other twice.
Both games came in February 2003, with Sir Bobby Robson’s side proving to be triumphant home and away. The Magpies won 3-1 on both occasions, first at the BayArena and then again at St James’ Park.
Alan Shearer scored a first half hat-trick in the second game, as Newcastle United made it two wins out of two against their German opponents.
22 years later, Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen meet again. It is not a huge sample size, but the Magpies’ 100% record is on the line.
If Eddie Howe can preserve it, his side will take a giant step towards advancing to the next stage of the Champions League. It will also increase their chances of finishing in the top eight and bypassing the playoffs.
While all eyes are on Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby, this Champions League date with Bayer Leverkusen remains massively important.
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Can you remember where you were when Shearer bagged a Champions League hat-trick vs Bayer Leverkusen in 2003? 😍
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Eddie Howe has lost both of his games against German opposition
Newcastle United may have won 100% of their games against Bayer Leverkusen, but Eddie Howe has lost 100% of his competitive games against German clubs.
The Newcastle United manager has played two and lost two, having fallen to defeat against Borussia Dortmund home and away during the 2023/24 Champions League campaign.
His side were comfortably beaten in Germany, with Dortmund winning 2-0 at Signal Iduna Park.