Newcastle Brush Aside Qarabag to Book Champions League Last-16 Spot

Eddie Howe guided Newcastle United into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the first time after a lively 3–2 victory over Qarabag FK at St James’ Park secured a comprehensive 9–3 aggregate triumph.

With a commanding 6–1 first-leg win in Baku already in the bag, the tie was effectively decided before kick-off on Tyneside — and it was all but confirmed within six minutes as Sandro Tonali and Joelinton struck in quick succession.

Second-half goals from Camilo Durán and Elvin Jafarguliyev, either side of a Sven Botman header, added late intrigue, but Newcastle’s progression was never in serious doubt.

Rapid Start Seals Control

The foundation for Newcastle’s dominance had been laid in Azerbaijan, where two early goals set the tone. On home soil, Howe’s much-changed side required just six minutes to replicate that blistering start.

Sandro Tonali opened the scoring after Dan Burn’s initial effort was blocked and Will Osula’s header parried by Mateusz Kochalski. Moments later, Joelinton doubled the lead, volleying home emphatically after Harvey Barnes capitalised on a lapse in possession from Joni Montiel to deliver the cross.

Qarabag gradually settled, with Jafarguliyev forcing Aaron Ramsdale into his first save on the half-hour. Kochalski, who impressed in the first leg, denied Botman from a Kieran Trippier corner before a swift counter-attack saw Ramsdale tip Durán’s fierce strike over the crossbar.

Newcastle entered the interval 2–0 ahead on the night and firmly in control of the tie.

Second-Half Response

The visitors reduced the deficit six minutes after the restart when Durán was cleverly released into space and powered beyond Burn before finishing past Ramsdale.

However, the two-goal cushion was swiftly restored as Sven Botman rose to head home from another Trippier corner.

Qarabag refused to relent. After Burn was adjudged to have handled Pedro Bicalho’s cross, Ramsdale saved Marko Jankovic’s penalty, only for Jafarguliyev to convert the rebound, the ball deflecting in off Jacob Murphy.

Ramsdale produced a fine stop to deny Abdellah Zoubir an equaliser on the night as the contest became increasingly open, with chances at both ends in an entertaining finale.

Premier League Well Represented

Newcastle’s progress ensures six Premier League clubs will feature in the last 16, with the Magpies joining Arsenal FC, Manchester City, Chelsea FC, Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur.

Either Chelsea or FC Barcelona will travel to Tyneside next month before the return leg in south-west London or Catalonia, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Howe had previously identified reaching the knockout phase as the club’s primary objective this season. Now that Newcastle have achieved it, their ambitions extend further — and on this evidence, they will approach the next round with confidence rather than mere participation in mind.