Home / Football / Champions League News Newcastle 3-2 Qarabag: Magpies ease into last 16 after lightning start Howe's side march on with comfortable victory Written by Tom Rostance Last Update: February 24, 2026 10:07:26 pm GMT 2 min read Newcastle scored twice in the first six minutes to cruise into the last 16 of the Champions League with a stonking 9-3 aggregate win over Qarabag. United were 6-1 up after last weeks first-leg win and Sandro Tonali and Joelinton struck early on to raise the prospect of a record win.But Newcastle understandably took their foot off the gas, before three goals in seven second-half minutes added some life to the night.Camilo Durn cleverly beat Aaron Ramsdale at his near post, Sven Botman rocketed in a header from a corner and after Dan Burn handballed the visitors had a penalty.Ramsdale made a fine save but Elvin Cafarquliyev followed up to make it 3-2 on the night.That was the end of the scoring as Eddie Howes side progressed to the next round with ease.Newcastle ensured the Premier League will have six representatives in the last 16, with Howes men joining Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham in the draw.The Magpies will now face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the next round.Just as they had done in Baku, where two goals inside the opening eight minutes laid the groundwork for a 6-1 rout, Newcastle were two up within six minutes on home turf.Tonali got the ball rolling on five minutes, firing home after Burns shot was blocked and Will Osulas header kept out. Seconds later it was two, Joelinton volley emphatically past the goalkeeper after Harvey Barnes cross picked him out.Ramsdale denied Abdellah Zoubir what would have been a leveller on the night with a fine stop as the game opened up, but neither side could add further to the scoring. It mattered little. Newcastle are through, and the dream continues.Who is in the last 16?From the league phase:ArsenalBarcelonaBayern Munich ChelseaLiverpoolManchester CitySporting TottenhamFrom the play-offs so far:NewcastleAtletico MadridBayer LeverkusenBod/Glimt Topics: Newcastle United F.C. Follow us: Tom Rostance Tom has been writing about football - and other sports - for almost 20 years. He has covered four summer Olympics and many, many, many football matches from the World Cup final to the bottom of the EFL. Read more from Tom Rostance
