Qarabag vs Newcastle live: Latest score and updates from Champions League play-off – UK Times

This will be the first knockout stage game for both Qarabag and Newcastle in the Champions League; the only one of this year’s eight play-off round ties with both teams playing their first in the competition.

Newcastle have won four Champions League games in 2025-26.

If they win here, Eddie Howe will have the joint-most victories by an English manager in a single edition, along with five by Bobby Robson in 2002-03 (with Newcastle) and Graham Potter in 2022-23 (with Chelsea).

76% of Newcastle’s goals in the Champions League this season have featured one of Anthony Gordon or Harvey Barnes as the scorer and/or assister (13/17).

Gordon has six goals and two assists, while Barnes has five goals and one assist (they combined for one goal v Benfica, netted by Barnes/assisted by Gordon).

Qarabag’s Camilo Durán has netted four goals in the Champions League this season; the only Colombian players to score more in a single edition are Jackson Martínez (7 in 2014-15 for Porto) and Radamel Falcao (5 in 2016-17 for Monaco).

Qarabag won their opening two games in the Champions League this season (3-2 v Benfica and 2-0 v Copenhagen), but have since only won of their last six (D1 L4).

Can they shock Newcastle tonight?

Newcastle United’s journey of 2,529 miles to Qarabag will be the longest ever distance travelled by an English team for a Champions League away match.

Qarabag are winless in four home games against English sides in Europe, losing and failing to score in three of those.

They did avoid defeat in the most recent one, however, drawing 2-2 with Chelsea on in the Champions League this season.

This will be the 10th European meeting between sides from Azerbaijan and England (all involving Qarabag), with the English side unbeaten and winning on eight occasions.

Newcastle XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Willock; Elanga, Gordon, Barnes; Woltemade

“Of course, it means everything to us currently,” said Eddie Howe. “You look at the history of the club, this is a new opportunity for us – to get to the last 16 of this competition would be an incredible achievement, and we’re trying to embrace it in that way.

“We’re trying to look at the excitement and the possibility, rather than feel too much of the burden of the pressure of the occasion. We want to turn these moments and these games into history opportunities, into moments that people talk about for a long, long time.

“There’s a real excitement with this game and the travel and the number of supporters we’re bringing. It’s all set to be a great occasion. Then, of course, we have to do our bit, we have to bring our A game, and we have to approach the game in the right way, in terms of our attitude. I know we will.”