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

Newcastle’s corner is sent low to the edge of the box for Sandro Tonali.

He shoots but the ball is blocked and bounces back to Kieran Trippier who took the set piece.

Trippier hangs the ball up to the far post and Malick Thiaw leaps high before nodding the ball into the far side of the goal!

7 mins: Qarabag’s corner is played short and then curled into the box and the waiting arms of Nick Pope.

Newcastle then work the ball rapidly to the other end of the pitch as Joe Willock makes a darting run through the centre.

He slips the ball to Barnes who shoots from the left side of the penalty area and forces a fine save out of Mateusz Kochalski.

6 mins: Qarabag started their Champions League campaign brilliantly but fell away as the league phase came to a close.

Newcastle should win this game and they should do so easily.

The hosts burst forward on the left wing and Lewis Hall fails to deal with the cross into the box.

Leandro Andrade collects it and wins a corner.

Dan Burn has the ball and decides to drive forward. He pokes a threaded pass into the box and sends Anthony Gordon chasing after it.

Gordon pulls off the shoulder of Kevin Medina, meets the ball and smokes a first time shot past the goalkeeper!

Harvey Barnes has the first chance for Newcastle as he’s slipped the ball over on the left wing.

Barnes touches it into the box then squares a pass across the six yard box but into the hands of the goalkeeper.

I say pass, it could have been a shot but it was quite soft so I’m giving Barnes the benefit of the doubt.

Eddie Howe has picked a strong team which is more than capable of impressing tonight and securing a win away from home.

Newcastle get the ball rolling in Azerbaijan. Can they secure a win tonight?

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).