Newcastle United confirmed their place in the UEFA Champions League last 16 with a 3-2 victory over Qarabağ FK at St James’ Park, completing a commanding 9-3 aggregate success in their knockout play-off tie. Despite the defeat, the visitors earned respect for their attacking intent, even as they set an unwanted competition record by conceding 30 goals in a single campaign since the tournament’s rebranding in 1992.
With qualification almost assured after a 6-1 win in the first leg, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe rotated his squad, handing 21-year-old defender Alex Murphy his first start and making seven changes from the side that lost to Manchester City in the Premier League at the weekend. The hosts began with the same intensity that defined their performance in Baku, striking twice inside the opening six minutes to remove any lingering doubt.
Sandro Tonali opened the scoring when he calmly finished from close range after Mateusz Kochalski had produced a strong save to deny William Osula. It was Tonali’s first Champions League goal, a milestone moment that reflected Newcastle’s attacking confidence. Just 80 seconds later, Harvey Barnes delivered a precise cross that Joelinton met with a powerful volley into the roof of the net, taking his tally for the season to six.
The early burst took the edge off the atmosphere, yet Qarabag gradually settled and began to show the qualities that had carried them this far. Elvin Cafarguliyev tested Aaron Ramsdale with a sharp effort at the near post, forcing the goalkeeper into a smart save. The visitors continued to push forward, with Camilo Durán also drawing a strong stop after unleashing a fierce strike from distance.
Newcastle almost added a third before the interval when Jacob Murphy, eager to mark his 31st birthday, fired narrowly wide after a clever flick from Nick Woltemade. However, Qarabag’s persistence was rewarded shortly after the restart. Durán, their leading scorer in this season’s Champions League with five goals, used his pace to break clear of Dan Burn before finishing low beyond Ramsdale to reduce the deficit.
The response from the home side was immediate and decisive. Within a minute, Sven Botman rose highest to meet Kieran Trippier’s corner, powering a header into the net to restore Newcastle’s two-goal advantage and score his first Champions League goal.
Qarabag refused to surrender. When Burn handled inside the penalty area, Marko Janković stepped up from the spot, only for Ramsdale to save. Cafarguliyev reacted quickest to convert the rebound, keeping the contest alive and highlighting the visitors’ determination.
Both teams created further chances in an entertaining closing phase, with the tie narrowly missing the record for most goals in a Champions League knockout fixture. Newcastle ultimately maintained control to secure their fourth consecutive home victory in the competition, matching their highest number of wins in a single Champions League season.
The Magpies now prepare for a high-profile last-16 showdown against either Barcelona or Chelsea. The result also marked Newcastle’s first European knockout tie won by a margin of five or more goals since the 2004 to 2005 season. Qarabag, meanwhile, continue their difficult record against English opposition, having lost 10 of their 11 meetings while drawing once.
