Athletic Bilbao declare ‘We met as opponents, but our friendship continues’ ahead of Newcastle | OneFootball

It is Athletic Bilbao next.

Newcastle United with Wednesday night seeing NUFC’s fourth Champions League match of the eight that will be played in the Swiss League phase.

United currently eighth in the table.

This next Champions League match is extra special though, the first competitive game between the two clubs since the legendary UEFA Cup tie in 1994.

For many Newcastle United fans, one of the very best European away trips they had the pleasure to go to.

Just over 31 years on and a series of events have been planned where fans of the two clubs will come together, including a walking football match between supporters of Athletic Bilbao and Newcastle United.

After drinks…there will be a planting of an oak tree and a plaque will be placed ‘With the following message in gratitude to our host city: We met as opponents, but our friendship continues’

Class stuff and such a pleasure that we get to host this excellent club and brilliant fanbase on Tyneside.

Here’s hoping they have a brilliant time on their visit, apart from the actual 90+ minutes of Champions League action of course.

Athletic Club will replicate the initiative we organised in Dortmund but this time in England

As part of the #FollowSomethingUnique campaign, the Athletic Club Foundation is repeating the initiative carried out in Dortmund and has organised a few events to take place on the morning of our Champions League match in Newcastle: the planting an oak tree, a Walking Football match and a post-game get-together.

The initiative seeks to envoke the spirit of the Legendary UEFA Cup tie of October 1994 (3-2 at St James’ Park and 1-0 at San Mamés), where both sets of fans bonded in Newcastle and Bilbao.

This is a showcase for Athletic Club’s values and will hopefully add to the good impression that Athletic fans usually make at European away games.

We believe ourselves to be a respectful, cheerful fanbase, made up mostly of families and groups of friends, that’s proud of its identity and keen to turn football into a celebration.

#FollowSomethingUnique Newcastle programme Unlike in Dortmund, the proposal on this occasion is to link the three main events of the programme so that those who play in the Walking Football match or cheer on the team can also participate in the oak tree planting.

November 5th, 2025′