Below-par Newcastle United ease into Champions League last 16 with huge aggregate win over Qarabag
The much-changed Magpies strolled through most of the game, but still emerged victorious on the night.
In playing the Champions League matches they have this season, Newcastle United have moved ahead of Leeds United in the list of all-time European matches played by English clubs. They now sit seventh, behind Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
In their history, Newcastle have won the old Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, reached the latter stages of the UEFA Cup (which the Fairs Cup became), and had several memorable nights in the Champions League. Never though, had they reached the final 16 teams left in UEFA’s elite European club competition.
That little piece of club history was what awaited the Magpies when they took to the field in the second leg of their play-off knockout round against Azerbaijani side Qarabag FK. Newcastle had done the hard work in Baku the previous week, winning 1-6 away from home to give themselves a monstrous aggregate lead, one which despite their rather lax display back on Tyneside, was never going to be relinquished.
Before even ten minutes in this leg had been played Newcastle had added two more goals, going on to win 3-2 and 9-3 on aggregate. Eddie Howe said “I don’t think it was a great performance”, when reflecting on this tie, but added that he was “really pleased that we won.”
“There’s a positive feel”, Howe continued, looking ahead to the next round, but also hinting that his side’s recent results have reinvigorated their season, which is undoubtedly true.
It has been a campaign of ups and downs for Newcastle, but Howe described this victory as “massive”, and he and his players will know that there is still plenty that can be achieved before it ends.
It did not take long for Newcastle to extend their large aggregate advantage. Sandro Tonali, who has been going through a resurgence of late, managed to direct the ball home after Qarabag goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski had made an initial save from a header.
Just a minute later Newcastle added a second, this time Joelinton volleying home Harvey Barnes’ delivery in from the left. That made the score 8-1 overall, with Newcastle already looking ahead to whether they will take on Barcelona or Chelsea in the last 16.
Eddie Howe had made several changes to the Magpies’ team that had started in Baku a week earlier, but despite this they were again too much for Qarabag to handle. The pace, power and physicality of Newcastle dominated the Azerbaijani side, who looked out of their depth for a team playing at this level of European football. They tried to stay rigid and compact but it was to no avail in the early stages.
As the first half progressed Newcastle gradually took their foot off the gas, even conceding a couple of half chances to their opponents. Such a drop off was understandable given the context of the tie at that moment, with Newcastle players probably not wanting to fully exert themselves. However, it likely won’t have pleased Eddie Howe too much.
The second half started how the first half had ended, with Newcastle playing with a very relaxed style. Such was their laid back nature that Qarabag managed to get themselves a goal on the night. Camilo Duran burst through the middle, outpacing Dan Burn, and finished well past Ramsdale. Such was Newcastle’s commanding position, it brought the strange phenomenon of Newcastle supporters applauding the goal. Some might call that patronising, but it seemed to be done with good intentions.
The home fans soon had another goal of their own to celebrate, Sven Botman this time powering home a header from a corner. The second half certainly had more life about it than the first, and the visitors were determined not to make the long trip home without a whimper, and they grabbed their second thanks to a rebound from a penalty.
Handball was given against Dan Burn in the Newcastle box, and despite Aaron Ramsdale saving the spot kick, Elvin Jafarguliyev managed to squeeze the ball home when it fell to him. Ramsdale made a good save with his legs from the penalty, but did not cover himself in glory in his attempt to keep out the rebound, which will have frustrated him.
That was just about the last bit of real action the second half had to give. There were various moments where both sides could have done better in the final third, but in all honesty the game had become a non event. Qarabag were clearly satisfied with their two goals on Tyneside, and Newcastle, despite being nowhere near their best for large parts, were making club history by progressing to the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time.