Newcastle vs Qarabağ FK 2026: Magpies Soar to Last 16 with 9-3 Aggregate Masterclass
Newcastle United secured their place in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 for the first time in the club's history with a commanding 9-3 aggregate victory over Azerbaijan's Qarabağ FK in the knockout round playoffs . After a stunning 6-1 demolition in Baku, the Magpies completed the job with an entertaining 3-2 win at St. James' Park, setting up a last-16 showdown with either Barcelona or Chelsea .
Tie Summary: Newcastle United vs Qarabağ FK
First Leg: Qarabağ FK 1-6 Newcastle United (February 18, 2026)
The tie was effectively decided in a breathtaking first half in Baku, where Newcastle produced one of the most dominant European away performances in recent memory .
Gordon's Historic Four-Goal Haul
Anthony Gordon etched his name into Champions League history with a remarkable four-goal performance—all scored in the first half . The England international became:
Only the second player in Champions League history to score four goals in a single half, joining Luiz Adriano (Shakhtar Donetsk, 2014)
The first player ever to score four goals in a half during a Champions League knockout match
The first Newcastle player to score a hat-trick in a Champions League knockout tie
First Half Blitz
Newcastle led 5-0 at half-time, with Gordon completing his hat-trick in just 33 minutes . Qarabağ goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski, despite conceding five, was arguably his side's best player, having made several saves to prevent an even更大 scoreline .
Second Half: Qarabağ's Consolation and Newcastle's Sixth
The hosts improved after the break, with Elvin Cafarguliyev scoring a fine individual goal in the 55th minute to make it 5-1 . However, substitute Jacob Murphy restored the five-goal cushion in the 72nd minute with an effort that deflected off Cafarguliyev and wrong-footed the keeper .
First Leg Key Statistics
Gordon's Reaction
"The records are nice, of course, but football is about the team. Individual moments only matter if the team succeeds and tonight, that was the most important thing. I'm very proud, not just of myself, but of everyone involved."
<cite>- Anthony Gordon to UEFA.com </cite>
With his four goals, Gordon took his Champions League tally for the season to 10—surpassing Alan Shearer's club record of six and moving second only to Harry Kane in the competition's scoring charts .
Second Leg: Newcastle United 3-2 Qarabağ FK (February 24, 2026)
With the tie effectively over, Eddie Howe made six changes to his starting lineup, resting key players ahead of Premier League commitments . Teenage defender Alex Murphy made his full debut and first Champions League appearance .
Lightning Start: Two Goals in Two Minutes
Newcastle picked up where they left off in Baku, scoring twice inside the opening six minutes to extinguish any remaining doubt .
| Minute | Scorer | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 4' | Sandro Tonali | Forced the ball over the line after William Osula's effort was saved |
| 6' | Joelinton | Volleyed emphatically past Kochalski from Harvey Barnes' cross |
Qarabağ Show Pride
The visitors refused to fold and created several chances before half-time. Elvin Cafarguliyev forced a save from Aaron Ramsdale, and Camilo Durán saw his well-struck shot tipped over by the Newcastle keeper .
Second Half Drama
The second half produced three goals in a seven-minute spell:
Late Chances and Milestones
Aaron Ramsdale produced a brilliant save to deny Abdellah Zoubir from equalizing on the night
18-year-old full-back Leo Shahar made his Newcastle debut in the 87th minute
Anthony Gordon entered as a second-half substitute and immediately looked dangerous, twice going close to adding to his tally
Full-Time Statistics
Player Spotlight: Sandro Tonali's Resurgence
The Italian midfielder continued his excellent late-winter form, scoring his third goal in as many starts . In the absence of injured captain Bruno Guimarães, Tonali has re-emerged as the team's leading man, orchestrating play from deep while also contributing crucial goals .
"Of the very small number of potential suitors for the Italian, Barcelona would probably be one. But, for now and until the end of the season at least, he will be orchestrating Newcastle's midfield."
<cite>- Daily Mail </cite>
What It Means: Round of 16 Draw and Historical Context
Next Opponent: Barcelona or Chelsea
Newcastle will discover their Round of 16 opponents on Friday, February 27, 2026. They will face either:
Barcelona (whom they hosted on the opening night of the group phase, losing 2-1 despite dominating the first half) , or
Historic Achievement
This marks Newcastle's first-ever appearance in the Champions League Round of 16
The Premier League will have six representatives in the last 16: Newcastle joining Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham
Gordon's 10 goals are the most by any English player in this season's Champions League
Eddie Howe's Perspective
Howe had revealed before the tie that reaching the knockout stage proper was the club's principal objective for the campaign, but he made clear that his team will not be satisfied simply to be taking part .
"If they are to play in this competition next season, it might just be that winning this year's edition becomes their most viable route. They are nine points off fifth in the Premier League and the field in front of them is crowded."
<cite>- Daily Mail </cite>
Match Details and Officials
First Leg Information
Second Leg Information
Venue: St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
Date: February 24, 2026
Referee: Davide Massa (Italy)
Second Leg Starting Lineups
Key Records and Milestones
| Achievement | Player/Team | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Most goals in a half | Anthony Gordon | 4 goals (first player in CL knockout history) |
| Fastest hat-trick start | Anthony Gordon | 33 minutes from first to third goal |
| Most goals by a Newcastle player in a CL season | Anthony Gordon | 10 goals (beats Alan Shearer's 6) |
| First Norwegian side to win CL knockout tie | Bodø/Glimt | Reference point for underdog success |
| Newcastle's first CL last-16 appearance | Newcastle United | Club history |
Looking Ahead
Round of 16 Draw
Date: Friday, February 27, 2026
Time: 6:00 AM ET / 11:00 AM GMT
Streaming: UEFA website, YouTube, Champions League app
Potential Quarter-Final Path
Should Newcastle overcome their Round of 16 opponent, they would face one of the winners from the other half of the draw, which includes Arsenal, Manchester City, and Real Madrid.
Summary
The Newcastle vs Qarabağ FK 2026 Champions League playoff tie will be remembered as the night Anthony Gordon announced himself on the European stage and Newcastle United took a giant step toward establishing themselves among the continent's elite .
From Gordon's historic four-goal first half in Baku to the professional job done at St. James' Park, the Magpies were utterly dominant across 180 minutes, outscoring their opponents 9-3 and sending a message to the rest of Europe .
For Qarabağ, despite the heavy defeat, their spirited second-leg performance—scoring twice at one of English football's most intimidating venues—earned them respect and proved they belong on this stage .
All eyes now turn to Friday's draw, where Newcastle will discover whether Barcelona or Chelsea stand between them and a place in the quarter-finals. As Eddie Howe's men proved across this tie, they will fear no one .
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