Newcastle Vs Qarabag Fk: Match Report — Newcastle 3 Qarabağ 2 (9-3 on aggregate) as Magpies reach Champions League last 16
Newcastle Vs Qarabag Fk finished 3-2 at St. James' Park as Newcastle progressed to the Champions League last 16 on a 9-3 aggregate. The result confirmed a two-legged tie already tilted by a 6-1 first-leg win in Azerbaijan and left the tie settled despite a spirited comeback from Qarabağ.
Newcastle Vs Qarabag Fk: how the tie unfolded
Sandro Tonali struck early to open the scoring for Newcastle, after a saved header by William Osula fell into his path. One account places Tonali's strike in the fourth minute; another places it in the third minute. Seconds later Harvey Barnes delivered a cross and Joelinton volleyed home to make it a rapid two-goal lead on the night.
Qarabağ rallied after half-time. Camilo Durán (also written as Camilo Duran in some accounts) skipped away from Dan Burn and finished past Aaron Ramsdale to give the travelling support a memorable moment after a mammoth 2, 500-mile journey. Sven Botman then headed in from Kieran Trippier's corner to restore a strong aggregate cushion, only for Qarabağ to get on the scoresheet again from a penalty rebound.
Key moments at St. James' Park
- Early sequence: William Osula saw an initial effort saved and that parry led to Tonali's opener at the Leazes End.
- Joelinton converted Harvey Barnes' centre on the volley to make it 2-0 within minutes.
- Camilo Durán's second-half run produced Qarabağ's first goal on the night.
- Sven Botman headed home from a Trippier corner to make it 3-1 on the night before being withdrawn almost immediately as part of a triple substitution.
- Dan Burn was penalised for a handball inside the box; Aaron Ramsdale saved the spot-kick but Elvin Cafarguliyev (also spelled Cəfərquliyev in some accounts) reacted quickest to score the rebound.
Penalties, saves and goalkeeper interventions
Aaron Ramsdale produced multiple crucial interventions. He kept out a spot-kick taken by Marko Jankovic and later saved a penalty taken by Joni Montiel, with both penalties followed by quick rebounds that Qarabağ men were fastest to punish in at least one instance. Ramsdale also made an acrobatic save to tip over a Camilo Durán shot and denied other threats.
Mateusz Kochalski, Qarabağ's goalkeeper, was called into action too: he parried Osula's header that led to Tonali's goal and later denied Harvey Barnes on at least two occasions, the second after Newcastle skipper Kevin Medina lost possession that led to a low strike which Kochalski held.
Debuts, substitutions and manager reaction
Eddie Howe made six changes to the side that had been narrowly beaten at Manchester City at the weekend. Alex Murphy made his full debut in the Champions League and shared his reaction after the match. A teenage full-back, Leo Shahar, also made his Newcastle debut late on.
Howe described progression to the last 16 as a massive achievement and stressed that nothing was given at the start of the Champions League run; he said the team had enjoyed the run and navigated the double-header well. He reflected that going 2-0 up so early could be dangerous, that Qarabağ deserved credit for making it difficult, and that the most important thing was securing the win. Howe added that whoever Newcastle get next will be an amazing tie and that he believes the team can raise its game and compete with anybody.
Ciaran Kelly, reporting at St. James' Park, provided live coverage detail from the ground.
Match summary and wider play-off context
| Tie | Score (2nd leg) | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle v Qarabağ | 3-2 | 9-3 |
| Inter v Bodo | 1-2 | 2-5 |
| Bayer Leverkusen v Olympiacos | 0-0 | 2-0 |
In the other play-off results noted, Hauge put Bodo/Glimt in front at Inter and Evjen doubled the visitors' lead before Bastoni pulled one back, leaving a 2-5 aggregate in favour of Bodo/Glimt. Bayer Leverkusen held Olympiacos to a goalless second leg and progressed 2-0 on aggregate and will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the last 16. Atletico Madrid beat Club Brugge to set up a tie with either Liverpool or Spurs.
Next fixtures and live coverage
Use 'watch & listen' tab for live coverage. That is all for this live page but you don't have to wait long for more Champions League action as coverage will return at 18: 30 GMT on Wednesday for four more play-off second-leg ties.
Newcastle leave St. James' Park with progression secured, four wins in five across competitions noted, and a two-legged last-16 tie against either Barcelona or Chelsea awaiting them next; further details about that draw are expected to follow.
