Paris Saint Germain are giving an interesting insight into what may well become a regular trip for European giants.
Newcastle are back in the big time, ending their Champions League absences with a trip to Milan last time out, but welcoming the Ligue 1 behemoths to their home will certainly hit differently.
Sure, St James’ Park gets to see Erling Haaland once a season, but Kylian Mbappe rocking up in Tyneside with the Eiffel Tower on his chest has seen anticipation reach fever-pitch.
As things are proving, though, it’s not just a unique experience for Newcastle, but their opponents too.
Mbappe himself is finding the conditions so tricky in the north east that footage from training the night before kick off saw him requesting a pair of gloves.
The UK’s late summer hasn’t quite hit Newcastle or French sport’s biggest star, but the challenging conditions haven’t stopped manager Luis Enrique from fully embracing the experience.
Explaining why The Magpies are far from a run-of-the-mill Champions League returnee, the Spaniard told the media: “The atmosphere will be hostile and also impressive.
“I am looking forward to this game. I’m even a little jealous of my players for being able to play in such an atmosphere. It will be an extraordinary match.”
Having already put his name in the history books as a treble-winning Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique wasn’t a bad player either.
Formerly of both Real Madrid and Barca, the PSG boss has already had a Newcastle influence on his career, from Geordie legend Bobby Robson.
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