Key Takeaways:
- Newcastle United advanced to the UEFA Champions League last 16 last night following a 3-2 home win over Qarabag (9-3 on aggregate)
- Qarabag set a new record for most goals conceded in a single campaign since 1992/93, with 30
- Sandro Tonali scored his first UEFA Champions League goal
Dominant Start Secures Comfortable Aggregate Win
Newcastle United booked their place in the UEFA Champions League last 16 with a 3-2 victory over Qarabag at St James’ Park, resulting in a commanding 9-3 triumph on aggregate. Having built a formidable 6-1 advantage in Baku last Wednesday, Eddie Howe opted to rotate his squad, granting 21-year-old defender Alex Murphy his first start and making seven changes from the side beaten 2-1 by Manchester City on Saturday.
The Magpies wasted no time in establishing control, surpassing even their impressive early display in Azerbaijan. Sandro Tonali broke the deadlock within six minutes, capitalising on a rebound after Mateusz Kochalski parried William Osula’s header for Tonali to steer home his maiden UEFA Champions League goal. Just 80 seconds later, Harvey Barnes provided a pinpoint cross for Joelinton, who volleyed emphatically into the roof of the net for his sixth goal of the season.
Job done ☑️
We progress into the @ChampionsLeague Round of 16! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/exyIlDTqCX
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) February 24, 2026
Qarabag Fight Back but Newcastle Respond Firmly
The early double left the contest with little jeopardy, contributing to a muted atmosphere inside St James’ Park. Qarabag responded by growing into the game, with Elvin Cafarguliyev – who found the net in the first leg – forcing Aaron Ramsdale into a smart block at the near post on the half-hour mark. Newcastle almost continued their trend of scoring freely before the interval, when Jacob Murphy, celebrating his 31st birthday, narrowly fired wide after Nick Woltemade’s clever flick. Ramsdale was then again called into action to tip Camilo Duran’s powerful drive over the bar.
After the interval, Duran finally beat Ramsdale, accelerating past Dan Burn and rifling home Qarabag’s first of the evening – his fifth in the competition – inside the near post six minutes after the restart. The hosts replied almost instantly when Sven Botman powered in Kieran Trippier’s out-swinging corner with a firm header, netting his inaugural UEFA Champions League goal.
Records Broken as Magpies March On
Despite the introduction of first-leg standout Anthony Gordon, Qarabag struck again from the penalty spot when Dan Burn handled in the box. Marko Jankovic’s effort was saved by Ramsdale, only for Cafarguliyev to slot in the rebound. Both teams pushed for additional goals, which would have equalled the record for the highest aggregate total in a UEFA Champions League knockout tie (13), but the scoreline remained 3-2 as Newcastle recorded their fourth straight home victory in the competition, matching their best-ever tally of six wins in a single campaign.
Qarabag, meanwhile, set an unwanted record for goals conceded in a UEFA Champions League season since the competition adopted its current format in 1992/93, with 30 let in across their matches and have now lost 10 of their 11 meetings with English opponents (D1).
Newcastle’s emphatic aggregate win – their first by a margin of five or more goals in European knockout football since 2004/05 – sets up a highly anticipated last-16 encounter with either Barcelona or Chelsea.
Match Statistics
| Aggregate Score | Newcastle United 9-3 Qarabag |
|---|---|
| Second Leg Score | Newcastle United 3-2 Qarabag |
| Notable Goals | Tonali (6′), Joelinton (7′), Duran (51′), Botman (52′), Cafarguliyev (67′) |
