“Hopefully we can do them proud.” That was Eddie Howe’s pre-match message on TNT Sports when asked about the 2,000 Newcastle fans who’d made the 2,500-mile trip to Azerbaijan for tonight’s Champions League playoff first leg.
Well, we did that alright! A lightning start saw us race into a 2-0 lead after nine minutes, and it was an absolute onslaught from that point onwards, as we headed into the break 5-0 up thanks to FOUR first-half goals from Anthony Gordon.
Qarabag did pull one bag early in the second half, but we soon reasserted our dominance as Jacob Murphy scored his first Champions League goal to round off a 6-1 win, a night full of positives and Newcastle United firsts.
On what would’ve been Sir Bobby Robson’s 93rd birthday, it was a night the great man would’ve been proud of. Our biggest ever Champions League win in our first knockout game in the competition, three straight away wins in the space of a week, and another confidence-boosting night to keep our momentum building in this busy run of fixtures.
The result gives us a huge lead heading into next Tuesday’s return leg at St James’ Park, almost certainly setting up a last 16 tie with Barcelona or Chelsea in the next round.
Howe made four changes from our FA Cup win at Aston Villa on Saturday, as Nick Pope, Joe Willock, Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon replaced Aaron Ramsdale, Jacob Ramsey, Jacob Murphy and Will Osula.
Joelinton was back on the bench, but we were without seven first-team players: Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis Miley, Yoane Wissa, Sven Botman, Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth.
Newcastle XI: Pope – Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Willock, Tonali, Woltemade – Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.
Substitutes: Ramsdale, Ruddy, Harris, Shahar, A Murphy, Joelinton, J Murphy, Ramsey, Neave, Osula.
Qarabag XI: Kochalski – Silva, Mustafazade,Medina, Jafarguliyev – Bicalho,Janković –Leandro Andrade, Montiel, Zoubir – Durán.
Before we get to the action itself, it’s interesting to note that we had SEVEN English players in our line up: the most from a Premier League side since Man Utd against Monaco in 1998.
Woltemade was operating as an advanced midfielder once again, with Gordon leading our attack in a false nine role, and the former Everton man continued his superb European form with a goal within three minutes, breaking a Newcastle record for goals scored (7) in a single Champions League campaign.
What a start for Newcastle 🔥
Anthony Gordon gives his side the lead after just two minutes@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/W0kVds2jlg
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 18, 2026
Burn stepped out of defence, slipped Gordon in behind and our No. 10 did the rest, sliding into the far corner to send 2,000 Mags wild in the away end. And they’d soon be celebrating again just five minutes later, as Thiaw headed in Trippier’s cross to make it 2-0 Newcastle and five goals for the season for the big German!
20 minutes in, we’d already had eight shots, five on target and could’ve easily been three or four nil up. Gordon had a one-vs-one struck straight at the goalkeeper from Elanga’s brilliant through ball, Barnes went close with three efforts of his own and Hall whipped in a dangerous free kick that almost caught Qarabag stopper Kochalski off guard.
Then came another huge chance on 25 minutes. Tonali and Gordon linked up nicely, Barnes waltzed into the box and Kochalski made himself big to deny him, making another goal-saving stop minutes later as Gordon burst through after Willock’s pass put Barnes through again. Gordon should’ve had a hat-trick within 30 minutes, but he would soon be given the chance to score his second as a low Barnes shot was handled in the box, giving us a penalty that our No.10 buried to make it 3-0 with just 31 minutes on the clock.
Second after the restart, we scored again. More comical Qarabag defending, as Medina made a total mess of it, but Gordon was first to react, capitalising on the mistake, bursting through on goal, rounding the keeper and firing into an empty net to complete his hat-trick! Only the third Mag to do it in the Champions League after Alan Shearer and Tino Asprilla, sending Newcastle FOUR nil up.
Anthony Gordon completes the hat-trick immediately after scoring his second 🔥
Newcastle are flying@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/eJXBDPIPz8
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 18, 2026
And it got even worse for the home side. After Elanga’s whipped free kick was somehow headed straight at the goalkeeper by Dan Burn, Gordon burst clear yet again, was brought down by Kochalski and he did the rest once again, firing into the opposite top corner this time to make it 5-0.
As Opta revealed, Newcastle racked up 4.5 expected goals (XG) in the opening 45 minutes: the most ever generated in the first half of a Champions League match on record! The fact 5-0 Newcastle flattered Qarabag at the break summed up one of the most one-sided first halves you’re ever likely to see.
On the subject of stats, Newcastle had also become just the second team in Champions League history to lead a knockout stage game by five or more goals at half-time, with Bayern Munich the only other side to manage this in 2015.
One concern as the players left the field was an altercation between Trippier and Gordon, with the captain appearing unhappy that Gordon did not give the penalty to someone else, considering he’d already bagged a hat-trick and we were cruising at 4-0 up. I get the idea, but if he’s the designated penalty taker and Howe hasn’t stepped in, you can’t blame Gordon for not giving it up.
Moving to the second half, it was a surprise to see Howe make no changes, then Qarabag scored with their first shot on goal, as Pope was statuesque and beaten too easily, allowing Elvin Cafarquliyev to fire in from the angle to make it 5-1.
At the other end, Woltemade should’ve made it 6-1 on the hour mark. Tonali’s cross found the big man, the keeper was committed and he got too much on the header, missing what would’ve been a certain goal had he kept it down.
Howe then made changes with 67 minutes on the clock, as Gordon, Elanga and Willock were replaced by Will Osula, Jacob Murphy and Jacob Ramsey. And it soon paid off, as Murphy cut in from the right and scored from range, netting his first ever Champions League goal to make it 6-1.
Joelinton then came on, replacing Trippier moments later, and we then saw what may prove to be a smart yellow card for Thiaw. He was one booking from a ban, which could’ve seen him miss a last 16 game against Barcelona or Chelsea, but he will now serve that suspension in next Tuesday’s second leg instead. With Joelinton and Burn in the same boat, it may have been wise for both to also take cheap yellow cards in what remained of this one!
One criticism with five minutes to play was the lack of youngsters coming on. Sean Neave did come on for the final moments, replacing Barnes, but I did wonder why we hadn’t seen Alex Murphy on for a tiring Hall or Leo Shahar given minutes at right-back.
Then came three chances in 15 seconds. Burn and Osula had to score, forcing Kochalski into an incredible double save, then Thiaw header wide from the resulting cross. If it hadn’t been for the Polish stopper’s heroics, we would’ve scored eight or nine, easily!
Next up, a Premier League trip to Man City on Saturday night, before our Champions League return leg at St James’ Park next Tuesday.
Keep the faith. Howay the lads!
⚫️⚪️ NUFC fans SUPERB in Baku 🇦🇿 pic.twitter.com/tygurdWgCM
— Jordan Cronin (@jordancronin_) February 18, 2026