Newcastle United
Now then, we’re going back a bit further here…
Yes, indeedy: Newcastle’s last appearance in the competition was two decades ago, in 2002/03.
Wow, Bobby Robson et al?
Yes, Bobby’s charges included the likes of Shay Given, Nolberto Solano, Jermaine Jenas and Alan Shearer. Alas, they only made it as far as the second group stage.
Shame. Any runs that were more successful?
Well, no. Their only other appearance was in 1997/98, when they didn’t emerge from the group stage. However, they did record a thrilling 3-2 win over Barcelona, with Faustino Asprilla scoring a hat-trick (and performing a flip or two for good measure).
What’s been going on since then?
They were relegated to the Championship in 2009, came back up the following year, went back down again in 2016 and got promoted in 2017. They’ve stayed in the top flight since then, with new ownership and manager Eddie Howe propelling them into the top four last season.
Which players could get them into the knockouts this time?
Let’s talk spines: Sven Botman is a colossus at the back, Bruno Guimarães has been a revelation in midfield and Alexander Isak is an exciting talent up front.
Fact, please.
When Newcastle United were first formed, they wore red and white – just like local rivals Sunderland.
Hmm, just goes to show that not everything in life is black and white.
Geez.
RC Lens
Where do these guys figure in our timeline?
They’re only just behind Newcastle United, in that they went out in the first group stage in 2002/03 rather than the second. And there’s some weird synergy going on, in that their sole other appearance was a very similar experience to the Toon Army: a 1998/99 group stage exit.
Any highlights from those Champions League experiences?
Well, in 1998/99 they actually finished second in their group, but back then the knockouts didn’t feature a round of 16 so only eight teams went through. That meant the group winners and two best-placed runners-up; Lens weren’t one of them.
Zut alors.
Exactly. They got a famous win against Arsenal at Wembley during that campaign, though, while in 2002/03 they beat AC Milan at home and grabbed a dramatic 3-3 draw at Bayern with pretty much their last – and, thus, most recent – kick in this competition.
And they lit up Ligue 1 last season, right?
Yes, they came within one point of pipping Paris to the title. Manager Franck Haise has done a brilliant job on a tight budget, especially given his side were in Ligue 2 as recently as 2020 and this is his first senior management role.
And the players?
Brice Samba backstopped the best defence in League 1 last season and the good news is that he has signed a new contract.
Un fait, s’il vous plaît.
Ooh, très bien. More French for you, then: the club’s nickname is Les Sang et Or – the Blood and Golds – in reference to their distinctive colours.
Union Berlin
Hang on, we’ve got a newbie!
Yes! A bit of a fairytale, this one: Union only went up to the Bundesliga for the first time in 2019, then secured Champions League qualification on the final day of last season with a goal in the last ten minutes, scored by Rani Khedira (younger brother of Sami).
An exciting European adventure awaits.
That said, they’ve got some recent experience on the continent: they played in the Europa Conference League in 2021/22 and reached the Europa League round of 16 last season. They also reached the second round of the UEFA Cup in 2001/02.
Still, this is the main event, Die Meister, Die Besten…
Stop it. Yes, it’s incredible that they are going to be performing on this stage. In 2008, the club almost lost its licence to play in the third tier because its terraces were crumbling, so the fans stepped in: more than 2,000 supporters worked for a combined 140,000 hours to complete the renovations. And here we are.
Who are their stars?
Hard to pick out one player, but Suriname winger Sheraldo Becker is exciting to watch in full flow.
Final fact!
Another example of the club’s passionate supporters. In 2004, when the club were perilously close to going bankrupt, a fan-based fundraiser called ‘Bleed for Union’ was organised. In Germany you get paid for giving blood, so thousands of fans popped along to their nearest blood bank, did the deed and gave the proceeds to the club, thereby saving it from extinction.
Bloody good show.
Hmm ...
