Newcastle United cruised into the Champions League round of 16 after a 3-2 second-leg win over Qarabag (9-3 aggregate). Qarabag conceded 30 goals this UCL season, the worst record in competition history.
Newcastle Seal Comfortable Progress
Newcastle United booked their spot in the Champions League last 16 on February 24, 2026. They beat Qarabag 3-2 at St. James' Park in the second leg of the knockout play-offs. With the first leg already won 6-1 in Baku, the tie was decided long before the final whistle. For fans who couldn't watch live, knowing how to check soccer livescore was the next best thing to being there. Still, the return leg gave fans a few moments worth watching.
The Magpies needed just six minutes to make the night comfortable. Sandro Tonali scored in the fourth minute after forcing home a rebound. Joelinton added a second two minutes later. At 2-0 up and 8-1 on aggregate, most people expected another big scoreline.
Qarabag Fight Back in the Second Half
Qarabag refused to give up completely. They came out stronger after the break and pulled one back through Camilo Durán in the 50th minute. Newcastle answered almost right away. Sven Botman headed in the third goal two minutes later to kill off any real comeback talk.
The visitors still found a way to score again. In the 57th minute, Aaron Ramsdale saved a penalty but couldn't hold the ball. Elvin Cafarquliyev pounced on the rebound and made it 3-2 on the night. For a few minutes, the game felt open, with both teams creating chances. Newcastle eventually closed things out and took the 9-3 aggregate victory.
Eddie Howe will be pleased. His team reached the round of 16 for the first time in this format. They now wait to learn their next opponent, with Chelsea and Barcelona still to play their second leg. Newcastle have shown they belong at this level again.
Anthony Gordon's First-Leg Masterclass Stands Out
The story of the tie really started in Azerbaijan. Anthony Gordon tore Qarabag apart in the first leg. He scored four goals before halftime. That performance set the tone and made the return leg feel like a victory lap. Gordon's pace and finishing exposed huge gaps in the Qarabag defence. Those four goals remain one of the standout individual displays of the campaign so far.
Qarabag Set an Unwanted Record
Qarabag made history by reaching the knockout play-offs as an Azerbaijani club. Sadly, they also set a record nobody wants. Across all their Champions League matches this season, they conceded 30 goals. That is the highest total any team has shipped in a single UCL campaign since the modern format began in 1992/93.
The 6-1 first-leg defeat was painful enough. Adding three more in Newcastle took their total to nine goals against just in these two matches. Their defence struggled against Premier League quality and movement. The players and staff know where the work needs to start if they return to this stage. Key Moments That Shaped the Second Leg
Here are the biggest moments from St. James' Park:
- 4th minute: Tonali opens the scoring early
- 6th minute: Joelinton doubles the lead
- 50th minute: Durán gives Qarabag a brief hope
- 52nd minute: Botman heads in Newcastle's third
- 57th minute: Cafarquliyev scores from the rebound after a saved penalty
The goals came in quick clusters and kept the crowd engaged even though the tie was never really in doubt.
What This Means for Both Teams
Newcastle move forward with confidence. They have won six Champions League games this season already. That matches their best tally in the competition. Eddie Howe spoke after the match about building on this run and pushing deeper into the knockout stages.
Qarabag leave with mixed feelings. Look past the yesterday match result, and there are positives to take away. They showed fight in the second half and scored three times across the tie against strong opposition. But the heavy defeats highlight the gap they still need to close. The experience should help them grow if they qualify again.
For fans, this was another memorable European night at St. James' Park. The atmosphere stayed lively right until the end. Newcastle are back among Europe's top 16 teams and ready for the next challenge.