10 Times Newcastle United Totally Bottled It In The Big Game

7. Athletic Bilbao 1-0 NUFC

Competition: UEFA Cup 2nd Round Season: 1994/95 A first venture into the UEFA Cup in 17 years came to an end in the second round just like it had in our previous European campaign in the 1977/78 campaign. French side Bastia were our conquerers back then when they beat by a convincing 5-2 aggregate scoreline, which included a 3-1 victory at St James' Park. But our exit to Athletic Bilbao was difficult to accept in 1994 after we had narrowly secured a 3-2 win over the Spanish side in the home leg and Newcastle went into the return fixture knowing a win or a draw would see them progress to the third round. All looked to be going according to plan for Kevin Keegan and his players until Jose Angel Ziganda popped up to score the decisive goal that settled the tie and sent Bilbao through on the away goals rule. A bitter pill to swallow for the Magpies who knew it was a game they should have won. What we didn't know at the time was this defeat would set the yet-to-be unbroken tone for future continental cowardice that would bear even greater heartbreak in years to come.