It was one of the greatest matches of Faustino Asprilla’s career and the Newcastle fans inside St James’ Park on 17 September 1997 are never going to forget the night Barcelona were beaten 3-2.
Barca had Luis Enrique, Luis Figo and Rivaldo in their line-up, but the popular Colombian put them all to the sword with a memorable hat-trick, which was even more impressive considering he had been enjoying himself in South America shortly before the game.
“I’d been away on international duty, but instead of going back to Newcastle I went to my ranch and had a party with lots of girls,” he told the current issue of Four Four Two. “Kenny Dalglish was furious,” he added.
However, he found himself in the starting XI and grabbed the chance with both hands, scoring a penalty and then heading in two Keith Gillespie crosses.
“I will never forget the Newcastle fans singing my name. I didn’t understand them as it was in Geordie, but I could still tell that they were really happy!”
Signed from Parma in 1996 for £6.7m, Asprilla scored 18 goals in 63 games for the club before returning to the Italian club in 1998.