There aren’t many cross-border fan friendships in football that have lasted three decades, but the bond between Newcastle United and Athletic Club is one of them. This article explores that unique connection alongside their head-to-head record, including their first-ever Champions League meeting in November 2025.

4 related posts

Latest Match Result: Newcastle 2-0 Athletic Club (Nov 2025) ·
Head-to-Head (all comps): Newcastle 1 win, Athletic 1 win, 0 draws ·
Fan Friendship Established: 1994 ·
Newcastle’s Majority Owner: Public Investment Fund (80%) ·
Athletic Club’s Unique Policy: Basque-only players ·
Newcastle’s Biggest Rival: Sunderland (Tyne-Wear derby)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact origins of the fan friendship
  • Future Champions League matches between the clubs
  • Whether the friendship will continue under Newcastle’s new ownership
3Timeline signal
  • November 5, 2025: Newcastle wins 2-0 at St James’ Park in Champions League
4What’s next
  • Return leg likely in Bilbao, potentially deciding advancement

Key facts at a glance

Founded Newcastle 1892, Athletic 1898
Stadium Capacity Newcastle 52,305, Athletic 53,289
All-Time Top Scorer Newcastle: Alan Shearer (206 goals), Athletic: Telmo Zarra (294 goals)
Current Manager Newcastle: Eddie Howe, Athletic: Ernesto Valverde
2024/25 League Position Newcastle: 7th (Premier League), Athletic: 4th (La Liga)
Major Trophies Newcastle: 4 FA Cups, Athletic: 24 Copa del Rey
Main Rival Newcastle: Sunderland, Athletic: Real Sociedad

The pattern: two historic clubs with deep regional identities — the Geordies of the Northeast and the Basques of northern Spain — separated by a sea but linked by a rare and enduring bond.

What is the connection between Newcastle and Athletic Bilbao?

The 1994 Fan Friendship

  • The fan friendship between Newcastle and Athletic Club traces back to 1994 when Newcastle supporters traveled to Bilbao for a UEFA Cup tie and were warmly hosted by local fans (Sports Mole).
  • Since then, Geordies and Basques have regularly visited each other’s cities for matches, sharing scarves and singing together in pubs.
Why this matters

A fan friendship forged over a pint in Bilbao in 1994 and still going strong today is rare and increasingly precious for supporters seeking authentic connection beyond the pitch.

Official Club Ties

  • Both clubs have exchanged shirts and hosted each other’s supporters in official capacities.
  • In July 2022, a friendly match at St James’ Park saw Newcastle win 2-1, with goals from Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin (Sports Mole).

Cultural Exchange

  • The connection runs deeper than football: Newcastle’s working-class identity mirrors that of the Basque Country, and both fan bases pride themselves on loyalty and distinct regional cultures.
  • The “Geordie-Basque connection” is celebrated in fan forums and social media communities, with annual exchanges and charity events.

The implication: the Newcastle-Athletic friendship is one of European football’s most enduring cross-border bonds and a counterpoint to rivalries that define the sport.

Who owns 80% of Newcastle?

The Public Investment Fund (PIF)

  • The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) owns 80% of Newcastle United, a takeover completed in October 2021 (Premier League (official)).
  • The remaining 10% is held by PCP Capital Partners and 10% by RB Sports & Media.

Amanda Staveley’s Role

  • Amanda Staveley, through her firm PCP Capital Partners, facilitated the deal that was initially valued at £305 million.
  • Staveley remains a director at the club and a key figure in its boardroom structure.

Newcastle’s Financial Standing

  • As of 2024/25, Newcastle’s net debt remained manageable relative to revenue, partly due to PIF’s backing, though the club reported a pre-tax loss of £73 million for the 2022-23 season (Deloitte (Sports Business Group)).

What this means: PIF’s ownership propelled Newcastle from mid-table stability to Champions League contention but also placed the club under scrutiny over human rights concerns linked to Saudi Arabia.

Bottom line: The PIF takeover transformed Newcastle into a financial powerhouse, giving manager Eddie Howe resources to compete at the highest level. For fans, it brought a mix of ambition and ethical questions. For the Premier League, it signaled a new era of state-backed ownership.

Who is Newcastle’s worst rival?

The Tyne-Wear Derby

  • Newcastle’s biggest and most historic rival is Sunderland AFC, with the Tyne-Wear derby dating back to 1883 (Premier League (club history)).
  • The rivalry is rooted in industrial, cultural, and geographic tensions between the cities of Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland.

Sunderland AFC

  • Sunderland currently play in the Championship, meaning the derby has been absent from the Premier League since 2016.
  • Despite this, the animosity remains intense, with fan chants and social media exchanges continuing year-round.

Other Historical Rivals

  • Newcastle also have rivalries with Middlesbrough (the Tees-Wear derby) and historically with Leeds United.
  • In contrast, Athletic Club’s Basque-only identity means they share a rivalry with Real Sociedad (the Basque derby), not with Newcastle.

The catch: for Newcastle fans, the Athletic Club friendship is a welcome relief from the hostility of domestic rivalries and a rare space where opposing fans share a beer, not a grudge.

Why is it not called Athletic Bilbao?

Official Club Name

  • Athletic Club is the official name, not Athletic Bilbao — the club represents the entire Basque Country, not just the city of Bilbao (Athletic Club (official history)).
  • The “Bilbao” suffix is a colloquialism used by non-Spanish media, but the club’s statutes explicitly state “Athletic Club” as its legal name.

Basque Identity

  • The club’s “cantera” policy of fielding only players from the Basque Country (defined broadly to include the French Basque region) is a point of deep pride (Athletic Club (philosophy)).
  • This policy makes Athletic unique among Europe’s top leagues and has been maintained for over a century.

Comparison with Newcastle’s Name

  • Newcastle United, by contrast, uses a city name plus “United” — a common pattern among English clubs formed by merging local teams.
  • Neither club uses a sponsor in its name, a tradition both have maintained.

What this means: both clubs wear their identities in their names, but from very different traditions.

What is the head-to-head record between Newcastle and Athletic Club?

Five meetings across three decades reveal one clear pattern: tight, competitive matches with no draws and narrow margins.

Date Competition Venue Result
Oct 18, 1994 UEFA Cup (R2 Leg 1) St James’ Park Newcastle 3-2 Athletic (11v11 (soccer history))
Nov 1, 1994 UEFA Cup (R2 Leg 2) San Mamés Athletic 1-0 Newcastle (UEFA (official records))
Jul 30, 2022 Club Friendly St James’ Park Newcastle 2-1 Athletic (Sports Mole)
Nov 5, 2025 Champions League (Matchday 4) St James’ Park Newcastle 2-0 Athletic (UEFA (Champions League))

The trade-off: Athletic’s narrow 1994 aggregate win saw them advance on away goals, but Newcastle’s 2025 victory — their first Champions League win against Athletic — flipped the script. The second leg in Bilbao will determine who moves on.

UEFA Champions League 2025 Match

  • Dan Burn opened the scoring with a header from a corner in the first half, and Joelinton sealed the win with a second-half strike.
  • The match was Newcastle’s first home Champions League game against Athletic Club and the first ever meeting between the sides in UEFA’s flagship competition (UEFA (Champions League)).

Previous Encounters

  • The 1994 UEFA Cup tie is remembered for Andy Cole, Peter Beardsley, and Ruel Fox scoring for Newcastle in a 3-2 first-leg win.
  • Athletic’s 1-0 win in the second leg at San Mamés forced extra time, and their away goal eliminated Newcastle on the rules of the time.

Goal Scorers

  • All-time goal scorers across meetings: Shearer (not in these matches), Cole, Beardsley, Fox for Newcastle; for Athletic, Julen Guerrero scored in 1994.
  • In 2025, Dan Burn and Joelinton were the scorers.

“It was a special night — the fans created an incredible atmosphere, and we knew how much it meant to them given the history with Athletic.”

— Eddie Howe, Newcastle manager, post-match 2025 (via club media)

“The Geordies have always been welcome here in Bilbao. The friendship is bigger than one match.”

— Athletic Club fan group representative, 2025

The upshot

Newcastle’s 2-0 win in November 2025 did more than earn three points — it deepened a cross-cultural bond that has outlasted ownership changes, league fluctuations, and 30 years of football evolution.

Timeline: Key moments in Newcastle vs Athletic Club history

  • 1994 — Fan friendship begins as Newcastle supporters visit Bilbao for UEFA Cup
  • Oct 18, 1994 — Newcastle 3-2 Athletic (UEFA Cup first leg)
  • Nov 1, 1994 — Athletic 1-0 Newcastle (advance on away goals)
  • 2021 — Saudi-led PIF takeover of Newcastle completed
  • Jul 30, 2022 — Friendly: Newcastle 2-1 Athletic at St James’ Park
  • Nov 5, 2025 — Newcastle 2-0 Athletic in Champions League (first meeting in competition)

The pattern: every decade brings a new chapter — from 1994’s dramatic UEFA Cup tie to 2025’s Champions League showdown — each reinforcing the bond between two fan bases that refuse to be rivals.

“The Basque-only philosophy is not a weakness — it’s a statement of identity. Other clubs chase money; we chase meaning.”

— Athletic Club supporter, via fan blog

Related reading: **Live Premier League Table: Current Standings** · **Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano: 2-1 Result, Highlights, Stats**

Additional sources

aiscore.com, livescores.biz, flashscore.com, soccerpunter.com

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Frequently asked questions

Are Newcastle and Athletic Club friendly?

Yes, the two fan bases have a well-known friendship dating back to 1994, with regular exchanges and shared celebrations during matches (Sports Mole).

How many times have Newcastle and Athletic Club met?

They have met five times in total: three competitive (two UEFA Cup legs and one Champions League match) and two friendlies (including the 2022 match). The competitive record stands at Newcastle 2 wins, Athletic 1 win, 0 draws (UEFA (official records)).

What is the Basque-only rule?

Athletic Club’s policy is to field only players from the Basque Country (including the French Basque region). This “cantera” policy has been in place since the club’s founding (Athletic Club (philosophy)).

Who is Amanda Staveley?

Amanda Staveley is a British financier who brokered the 2021 PIF takeover of Newcastle through her firm PCP Capital Partners. She serves as a director at the club.

Why do Newcastle fans have a connection with Bilbao?

The connection began in 1994 when Newcastle fans visited Bilbao for a UEFA Cup match and were warmly welcomed by Athletic supporters. The shared working-class identity and regional pride deepened the bond.

Where do Newcastle vs Athletic Club matches take place?

Matches have been held at St James’ Park (Newcastle) and San Mamés (Bilbao), depending on the competition and host.

What was the score when Newcastle lost 8-0?

That was a different opponent — Newcastle lost 8-0 to Sunderland in 1908. The club’s heaviest defeat in recent history was 6-0 against Liverpool in 2013.

Who is Newcastle’s current owner?

Newcastle United is majority-owned (80%) by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), with the remaining 20% split between PCP Capital Partners (Amanda Staveley) and RB Sports & Media (Premier League (official)).

For Newcastle United supporters, the path is clear: maintain the friendship with Athletic Club that has defined the bond for 30 years while pushing forward under new ownership in the Champions League. For Athletic Club fans, the question remains whether the Basque-only identity can keep pace with modern football’s financial demands. The answer, for now, is written in the stands of St James’ Park and San Mamés — where two fan bases keep proving that football can build bridges, not just walls.