Newcastle United completed their march into the UEFA Champions League last 16 with a 3-2 win over Qarabağ FK on Tuesday, sealing a 9-3 aggregate victory over the Azerbaijani champions.
The Magpies join a six-strong English contingent in the knockout stage alongside Arsenal F.C., Liverpool F.C., Chelsea F.C., Manchester City F.C., and Tottenham Hotspur F.C..
The tie had effectively been settled in the first leg, when Newcastle led 5-0 at half-time before cruising to a 6-1 victory. That dominant display allowed manager Eddie Howe to rotate heavily for the return fixture, with four-goal hero Anthony Gordon among those left on the bench.
Despite the changes, Newcastle made a rapid start, scoring twice inside six minutes. Sandro Tonali fired home a rebound after Dan Burn’s effort was saved, before Joelinton converted a cross from Harvey Barnes.
Qarabag, who had previously defeated Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt in the league phase, restored some pride in the second half. Camilo Duran outpaced Burn to pull one back, and although Aaron Ramsdale saved Marko Jankovic’s penalty after a handball decision, Elvin Jafarguliyev scored from the rebound.
In between the visitors’ goals, Sven Botman headed in from a corner to extend Newcastle’s advantage.
The defeat meant Qarabag conceded 30 goals in the Champions League this season, a single-season record in the competition.
What You Should Know
Newcastle’s commanding aggregate victory underlines their growing stature in European competition under Eddie Howe. Progressing to the last 16 alongside five other English clubs highlights the Premier League’s continued dominance in continental football.
For Qarabag, the campaign was historic despite defensive struggles. Reaching the knockout play-off stage marked a significant achievement for the Azerbaijani side, even though their defensive record set an unwanted benchmark.
Attention now shifts to the last-16 draw, where Newcastle will face stronger opposition as they seek to extend their European run.
