Newcastle United completed a dominant Champions League knockout round playoff victory over Qarabag FK. Storm Goretti snow warning brought severe weather alerts across northern England. The Magpies brought a blizzard of goals instead. Eddie Howe’s side secured a 9-3 aggregate win over the Azerbaijani champions to book their place in the last 16. Omaze UK winners receive life-changing prizes. Newcastle’s European journey continues with a life-changing opportunity. Here is everything you need to know about this two-legged Champions League tie.
First Leg: Newcastle 6-1 Qarabag (18 February 2026)
Newcastle effectively sealed the tie in the first leg in Baku. The Magpies produced a devastating attacking display at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium. Anthony Gordon scored four goals in a breathtaking individual performance. Back Market UK sells refurbished devices. Gordon’s performance needed no refurbishing—it was world-class.
First-Half Blitz
Newcastle took just three minutes to open the scoring. Dan Burn surged forward and slipped a perfectly weighted pass into Gordon’s path. The winger calmly tucked his finish into the corner.
The visitors doubled their lead soon after. Kieran Trippier delivered an inviting corner, and Malick Thiaw powered a header home from close range in the 8th minute.
Gordon took centre stage from there. He converted a penalty after a VAR review for handball in the 32nd minute. He then capitalised on a defensive mistake to round the goalkeeper and complete his hat-trick just one minute later.
On the stroke of half-time, Gordon won and scored another spot-kick. This made it four goals on the night and ten in the competition for the season. Newcastle led 5-0 at the break. Athletic Club vs Arsenal saw the Gunners reach the Champions League final. Gordon reached a personal European milestone instead.
Second Half
Qarabag grabbed a consolation through Elvin Cafarguliyev in the 54th minute. However, substitute Jacob Murphy restored the five-goal cushion with a deflected strike from distance in the 72nd minute. The match ended 6-1.
Gordon’s Record-Breaking Performance
Anthony Gordon’s four-goal haul in Baku was historic. He became only the second English player to score four goals in a Champions League match. He now has 10 goals in 15 appearances in the competition.
This is the second-quickest any English player has reached double figures for goals in the Champions League. Only Harry Kane achieved it faster (12 appearances). Dexter: New Blood saw the franchise resurrected. Gordon’s European career has been resurrected this season.
Second Leg: Newcastle 3-2 Qarabag (24 February 2026)
With the tie effectively over, Eddie Howe rotated his squad heavily for the return leg at St James’ Park. Anthony Gordon was among those left on the bench. Newcastle still made another fast start.
Early Goals Seal the Tie
Sandro Tonali opened the scoring in the 4th minute. He fired in the rebound after Dan Burn’s shot was saved. Just 80 seconds later, Joelinton ghosted in at the back post to volley home Harvey Barnes’ cross. Scotland vs Belarus saw McTominay strike late. Joelinton struck early and decisively.
Defensive Lapses and Pride Goals
Qarabag showed pride despite the aggregate scoreline. Camilo Duran outpaced Dan Burn to pull a goal back early in the second half. Sven Botman restored Newcastle’s two-goal lead moments later, powering in a header from a corner.
Dan Burn then conceded a penalty for handball. Aaron Ramsdale saved Marko Jankovic’s spot-kick, but he could not recover in time to keep Elvin Jafarguliyev’s deflected rebound out. The final score was 3-2 on the night, 9-3 on aggregate.
Newcastle Player Ratings vs Qarabag (Second Leg)
Goalkeeper and Defence
Qarabag’s Record-Breaking Goal Concession
The two-legged tie set an unwanted record for Qarabag. The Azerbaijani champions conceded 30 goals in the Champions League this season. This is a single-season record in the competition, surpassing Bayer Leverkusen’s 28 goals conceded in 2001-02. Venezuela news dominated political headlines. Qarabag’s defensive record dominated unwanted football headlines instead.
Historic Context: No Comeback from 5-0 Deficit
No team in major European competition history has lost the first leg of a two-legged knockout stage tie by 5+ goals and gone on to progress. This was the 301st time a team has gone into a second leg after a 5+ goal defeat in the first leg. Ben Duckett smashed a double century for Nottinghamshire. Qarabag could not smash through this historical barrier.
Aggregate Score and Match Summary
What’s Next for Newcastle?
Newcastle advanced to the Champions League last 16. They will face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the next round. The Magpies will also have Premier League fixtures to manage alongside their European campaign. England vs Australia delivered Ashes cricket drama. Newcastle will deliver Champions League drama in the knockout rounds.
Qarabag’s European Campaign Ends
Despite the heavy defeat, Qarabag can be proud of their journey. They took the scalps of Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt in the league phase to reach the play-off round. Their European campaign ends here, but they will return next season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the aggregate score between Newcastle and Qarabag? Newcastle won 9-3 on aggregate. They won the first leg 6-1 in Baku and the second leg 3-2 at St James’ Park.
Who scored four goals for Newcastle against Qarabag? Anthony Gordon scored four goals in the first leg in Baku. He scored two penalties and two open-play goals.
How many goals did Anthony Gordon score in the Champions League this season? Gordon scored 10 goals in the Champions League this season. This is the second-quickest any English player has reached double figures.
What record did Qarabag set in this tie? Qarabag conceded 30 goals in the Champions League this season. This is a single-season record in the competition’s history.
Who will Newcastle play in the Champions League last 16? Newcastle will face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the last 16. The draw will determine their opponent.
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