Newcastle Vs Qarabag Fk cruise into Champions League last 16 with 3-2 win
newcastle vs qarabag fk ended 3-2 at St. James' Park as Newcastle moved through to the Champions League last 16, winning the play-off tie 9-3 on aggregate.
Fast start set the tone
Sandro Tonali put Newcastle in front in the third minute after Mateusz Kochalski could only parry William Osula's header and Tonali forced the ball over the line at the Leazes End. Seconds later Harvey Barnes drilled a cross and Joelinton volleyed home to make it 2-0 on the night and extend Newcastle's lead in the tie.
Qarabag response and penalty drama
Qarabağ pulled one back after half-time when Camilo Durán skipped away from Dan Burn and finished past Aaron Ramsdale, a goal that gave the travelling support — who had made a 2, 500-mile journey — reason to cheer. Dan Burn was then penalised for a handball in the 56th minute; Ramsdale saved Joni Montiel's spot-kick but Elvin Cafarguliyev was quickest to react and buried the rebound.
Newcastle Vs Qarabag Fk: debuts, substitutions and near misses
Newcastle 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 later shared his reaction to the night. Nick Woltemade played a key pass that found Jacob Murphy, who was playing on his 31st birthday and drilled wide. Sven Botman headed Kieran Trippier's right-wing corner beyond Kochalski to make it 3-1, then came off almost immediately as part of a triple substitution. A late Newcastle debut went to teenage full-back Leo Shahar.
Key saves and moments that kept Qarabağ in it
Joelinton had a shot saved by Kochalski in the 17th minute and Elvin Cafarguliyev forced a good stop from Ramsdale in the 30th minute before Ramsdale tipped Durán's effort over the bar. Abdellah Zoubir later forced a brilliant save from Ramsdale, and Kochalski denied Barnes twice after Kevin Medina lost possession, holding a low strike from the winger.
Other play-off results and what’s next
Elsewhere in the play-offs, Inter lost 1-2 to Bodo, finishing the tie 2-5 on aggregate as Hauge put the visitors in front and Evjen doubled the lead before Bastoni pulled one back. Atletico Madrid beat Club Brugge to set up a tie with either Liverpool or Spurs, and Bayer Leverkusen drew 0-0 with Olympiacos to progress 2-0 on aggregate and will face Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the last 16. The live coverage will return at 18: 30 GMT on Wednesday for four more play-off second-leg ties.
Newcastle have now reached the Champions League last 16, and manager Eddie Howe described the achievement as "a massive achievement from us to get to the last 16" while adding that "whoever we get in the next round will be an amazing tie for us". The side now have a two-legged tie against Barcelona or Chelsea confirmed as their next opponent in the competition.
