St James' Park was rocking on Tuesday night, February 24, 2026, as Newcastle United completed a ruthless demolition of Qarabag FK. While the 3–2 scoreline on the night suggests a close contest, the aggregate score of 9–3 tells the real story of Newcastle’s dominance.
For the first time in the club's modern history, the Magpies have officially punched their ticket to the Champions League Round of 16, joining a elite group of English sides in the knockout phase.
The Match Breakdown: A Blitz at the Gallowgate
Newcastle wasted no time asserting their authority, scoring twice before some fans had even reached their seats:
4’ - Sandro Tonali 🪄: The Italian midfield maestro opened his Champions League account for the club, pouncing on a rebound to steer home a clinical finish.
6’ - Joelinton 🇧🇷: Just 80 seconds later, the Brazilian powerhouse doubled the lead with a venomous volley that set a new UCL record for the fastest two-goal start
in a knockout match.
52’ - Sven Botman : After Qarabag briefly threatened a comeback through Camilo Duran, Botman rose highest to bury a thumping header from a Kieran Trippier corner, effectively killing the tie.
The Aggregate Glory: Combined with last week's 6–1 win in Baku (where Anthony Gordon scored four!), Newcastle’s 9 goals are their most in a two-legged European tie since 2004.
The Next Step: Newcastle will discover their Round of 16 opponents in the draw this Friday. They are currently slated to face either Barcelona or Chelsea.
The Verdict: This is a watershed moment for the Newcastle project. To score nine goals over two legs in the Champions League is a testament to the "European swagger" Eddie Howe has instilled. They enter the draw as the team no one wants to visit at a night-time St James' Park.