Newcastle Progress to Last 16 After Competitive Second Leg
February 24, 2026
228d agoIn the UEFA Champions League knockout play-off second leg at St. James’ Park, Newcastle United continued their strong European run with a 3-2 win over Qarabağ FK, sealing a convincing 9-3 aggregate victory and booking their spot in the Round of 16 for the first time in the club’s history.
After a resounding 6-1 victory in the first leg in Baku, Eddie Howe’s side entered tonight’s match with a commanding advantage but still showcased ambition and intensity from the opening whistle.
The Magpies made a fast start, taking the lead through Sandro Tonali in the 4th minute before Joelinton doubled the advantage just two minutes later, sparking celebrations among a passionate home crowd.
Newcastle’s early pressure set the tone, and despite rotating his squad slightly, Howe ensured his team maintained control of the tie throughout the first half. Qarabağ, summoned by their first-leg deficit, showed fighting spirit but struggled to contain Newcastle’s forwards in the opening stages.
Qarabağ responded in the second half with increased urgency. Camilo Duran pulled one back shortly after the break, and Elvin Çafarquliyev added another goal to make it a nervy finish for the hosts. But Newcastle restored their cushion when Sven Botman headed home midway through the second half to make it 3-1 on the night, ultimately securing the margin they needed to progress.
Despite the visitors’ spirited goals, the aggregate scoreline reflected the gulf in quality between the sides over both legs.
With this win, Newcastle advance to the Champions League Round of 16, where they will face either Chelsea or Barcelona following Friday’s draw.
The result underlines the Magpies’ strong European campaign this season and delivers a memorable night for fans at St. James’ Park as they witness their team reach a major continental stage once again.
If you want a list of goal scorers and times from the match, let me know!
React to this story
Feature Your Player
GET YOUR PLAYER FEATURED ON TIPNGOAL
Reach sports fans across all our platforms. Send us your player profile and we'll feature it.
Comments
💬
No comments yet — be the first on the app!