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Keith Gillespie believed he was heading for a meal.

But those nearest to him had arranged a surprise—an unexpected celebration in recent months.

And a special guest traveled all the way from Colombia for the occasion.

“As the doors swung open, immediately visible was Tino Asprilla,” the winger stated. “He was standing there expecting my arrival. It felt unbelievable because he's somebody you don't expect to see in such a setting.”

“It was a wonderful shock,” he added. “It meant a lot for him to travel so far just for one night.”

Nearly a generation since both players caused chaos with the Magpies versus the Catalan giants.

Yet certain bonds undoubtedly endure.

“There was immediate chemistry,” Gillespie said.

As the team gets ready to meet Barça another time, Tino is expected to be in attendance at St James' Park on Thursday night.

‘There was a fire in his eyes’

Really, the squad gelled perfectly on that historic night.

Despite being the club’s debut in the main tournament, yet ex-player Philippe Albert felt “there was no pressure because Barcelona were the big favourites.”

And Shay Given, guarding the net, mentioned how the opposition “expected an easy win to secure the result.”

However, that wasn’t the outcome amid a passionate crowd.

“It was unlike any an atmosphere like that before,” the keeper expressed. “Unbelievable.”

Yet it was not exactly certain that match-winner Asprilla would take part – much less net three in his side's 3-2 victory.

Gillespie remembered that Tino “arrived late from international duty earlier that week which led to speculation he could be excluded.”

But manager Kenny lacked a plethora of options in attack.

Shearer was injured with a serious ankle injury with Les departed for London just a couple of months previously.

Understandably, veteran Barton recalled “Dalglish opting for an opportunity.”

It was hardly the ideal build-up for a match of this magnitude, yet Warren felt Tino seemed “ready” that night.

“Tino was always reserved pre-match,” Barton mentioned. “But he just had an aura about him and a look in his eye. This was his stage.”

It did not take Asprilla long to make an impact, the striker winning a foul in the box and scoring with the penalty midway through the first half.

Immediately obvious that he was in the mood.

“Often you knew early on which version of Tino would appear,” Gillespie said. “Sometimes he could be terrible, but often he shined frequently.”

Gillespie and Asprilla combine

Not only Tino that enjoyed the game of his life.

Gillespie was the first that he felt impressed observing the rivals ahead of kickoff and saw Rivaldo, Luis Figo, Luis Enrique and Ivan de la Pena waiting.

Yet he did not know much about the left-back, who was rated as among the top defenders in Europe at the time.

The winger sought to examine Sergi to test his pace.

After realizing he was faster, he insisted on receiving possession.

Rather than having a trick, he used a body fake since he believed he was going to get there first” and sent in the ball into the box.

Tino finished it.

In addition to netting his side's lead with a bullet header, he secured a hat-trick through another header amazing the chairman astonished.

“Asprilla was phenomenal on that evening,” Hall stated. “Observers noticed hang in the air upon receiving the ball - and score!”

The visitors scored twice, from Enrique and Figo, but the home side clung on. Barely.

It is still one of the most famous results in the club's history.

In some ways, it made sense that he failed to add more strikes prior to his return to Italy not long after.

What more could he do?

Barton labeled it Asprilla’s peak.

The balance shifts

Such occasions Asprilla came alive.

Indeed, it did not feel random that the striker scored nine times on the continental stage compared to league matches.

His first appearance was memorable after his transfer from Italy.

He was not scheduled to play shortly after arriving in winter conditions in a fur coat a few days previously.

He consumed to a glass of red wine with his pre-match meal facing rivals.

Yet the coach, then in charge, decided to throw on Asprilla seeing the team go 1-0 down on the road.

Asprilla duly set up Watson’s strike and the maverick's rubber legs helped turn the game on its head as the league leaders secured a 2-1 victory.

“Upon his introduction, he transformed the game,” Albert said. “Elite performers are capable of this.”

{It gave Keegan food for thought|It made Keegan reconsider|