Newcastle United will host Qarabag in the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Tuesday night.
Anthony Gordon led the way with a four-goal blast inside the opening 45 minutes and summer signing Malick Thiaw also found the net with a neat header from a pinpoint cross from Kieran Trippier. The hosts reduced Champions League the arrears nine minutes after the restart when Elvin Jafarguliyev took advantage of some poor defensive play from United - but the five-goal advantage was restored when Jacob Murphy came off the bench to rack up the first Champions League goal of his career with a deflected effort with just under 20 minutes remaining.
Despite Eddie Howe’s claims that the tie is not over, there is no doubt the Magpies are almost guaranteed a place in the last 16 of UEFA’s elite club competition and that means a two-legged tie against La Liga champions Barcelona or Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Newcastle will discover their fate later this week when the draw for the closing rounds of the Champions League takes place - but what could lie ahead for the Magpies in the second leg of their play-off tie with Qarabag and their last 16 clash with either Chelsea or Barcelona. We take a look at what could lie ahead with the help of AI tool ChatGPT.
Newcastle United 4-1 Qarabag (Newcastle win 10-3 on aggregate)
Newcastle United's English midfielder #10 Anthony Gordon celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's fifth goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off first leg football match between Qarabag and Newcastle at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku on February 18, 2026. (Photo by Giorgi ARJEVANIDZE / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Newcastle United's English midfielder #10 Anthony Gordon celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's fifth goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off first leg football match between Qarabag and Newcastle at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku on February 18, 2026. (Photo by Giorgi ARJEVANIDZE / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
ChatGPT: Anthony Gordon continues his red-hot Champions League scoring run, cutting in from the right and firing low into the bottom corner after a clever one-two. His confidence after the first leg suggests he’ll be hungry for more. Harvey Barnes then capitalises on a through ball behind the Qarabağ defence, holds off a defender, and places a composed finish past the keeper. Dan Burn then scores with a header from a corner to add a third on 59 minutes before Gordon adds another with a curling effort from just outside the box after a quick counter-attack in the closing stages. From a corner scramble, Qarabag pull one back in the final minute of injury-time via Elvin Jafarguliyev with a smart near-post finish — a deserved moment.”
Round of 16 first leg: Newcastle United 2-2 Barcelona
Joelinton and Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United interact with Referee Jarred Gillett as they walk into the tunnel for the half time break during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Aston Villa at St James' Park on January 25, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Joelinton and Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United interact with Referee Jarred Gillett as they walk into the tunnel for the half time break during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Aston Villa at St James' Park on January 25, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
ChatGPT: Gordon puts Newcastle head on 15 minutes by charging in from the left flank, cutting onto his stronger foot before curling a low shot past the goalkeeper into the bottom corner after neat link-up play in the box. Barcelona respond with Raphinha drifting inside from the right and unleashing a curling effort into the top corner following a slick passing sequence through midfield. Barcelona take the lead early in the second half as veteran striker Robert Lewandowski rises highest from a clever clipped cross to head Barcelona ahead, thumping the ball beyond the keeper from close range. Newcastle snatch a draw with a late goal from Joelinton as he pounces on a loose ball 25 yards out and drills a powerful, low strike into the corner after Barcelona fail to clear their lines.”
Round of 16 second leg: Barcelona 3-1 Newcastle United
Marcus Rashford scored twice against Newcastle United last nightplaceholder image
Marcus Rashford scored twice against Newcastle United last night | Getty Images
ChatGPT: Marcus Rashford slots home calmly at the near post from a low cross after darting past the Newcastle full-back, giving Barcelona an early lead on the break. Barcelona double the lead just before half time through Torres, who cuts inside from the right and curls a precision shot into the far corner from just outside the box. Raphinha seals the win on 76 minutes with a clever finish after exchanging passes with a teammate on the edge of the area and slamming the ball low past the keeper.
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