Newcastle United have qualified for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
After battering Qarabag 6-1 in Baku last week, a much-changed Toon XI beat the Azerbaijan side narrowly in tonight’s play-off second leg, with goals from man of the match Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Sven Botman securing a 3-2 win.
The victory not only sets up a last 16 tie with Barcelona or Chelsea next month, but means Eddie Howe has now won more Champions League games (6) in a single campaign than any other English manager.
Back from four-straight away games, three of which we won, Howe made seven changes from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Man City, seeing Ramsdale, Alex Murphy, Botman, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy, Barnes and Osula replace Pope, Thiaw (suspended), Hall, Willock, Ramsey, Gordon and Elanga.
This meant yet another start for Trippier and Tonali, Woltemade in a deeper role, with U21 duo Sean Neave and Leo Shahar on the bench.
Newcastle XI: Ramsdale – Trippier, Botman, Burn, A.Murphy – Tonali, Joelinton, Woltemade- Murphy, Osula, Barnes
Subs: Pope, Ruddy, Harris, Hall, Wissa, Gordon, Elanga, Willock, Shahar, Neave
Qarabag XI: Kochalski – Silva, Hüseynov, Medina, Jafarguliyev – Bicalho, Jankovic – Bolt, Montiel, Zoubir – Durán.
Much like in Baku, we started too quickly for Qarabag and raced into a 2-0 lead, with close range strikes from Tonali and Joelinton making it 8-1 on aggregate within eight minutes!
A quiet period followed and we took our foot off the gas. Botman’s passing was sloppy, Osula was very quiet and Woltemade was struggling to get into the game, although the German almost pulled off a stunning assist after his genius flick put Jacob Murphy through on goal, only for the birthday boy to fire wide.
The second half started with two more quick fire goals, only this time it was Qarabag who pulled one back before Botman made it 3-1 after heading Trippier’s corner into the net. Changes followed, as Hall, Willock and Gordon replaced Trippier, Botman and Joelinton, seeing Jacob Murphy move to right back and Alex Murphy partner Burn at centre-back.
Then came another Qarabag goal. Burn handled low cross and the spot kick was saved by Ramsdale, only for the rebound to be turned home to make it 3-2. And that’s how it ended. A scruffy second half display and a tame atmosphere to put it mildly, but we ran out out 9-3 winners in a tie that ended with Leo Shahar coming on for his Newcastle United debut.
Tonali was the standout player, scoring again and running relentlessly while others slackened, Alex Murphy was steady at the back, and Gordon looked a threat in his cameo. On the flip side, the likes of Botman, Woltemade and Osula didn’t grab their chance to impress, nor did a cumbersome Willock and Wissa from the bench.
Next up, the draw for the last 16 on Friday, where Chelsea or Barcelona await, followed by a Premier League double header, with Everton and Man Utd both coming to Tyneside over the next week.
Keep the faith. Howay the lads!
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