1923/24 won 2-0 SF (n)
1954/55 won 3-1 F (n)
1956/57 drew 1-1 3rd (h)
1956/57 won 5-4 3rd R (a)
1968/69 drew 0-0 4th (a)
1968/69 lost 0-2 4th R (h)
1974/75 won 2-0 3rd (a)
1976/77 lost 1-3 4th (h)
1994/95 won 3-1 5th (h)
2001/02 won 1-0 5th (h)
2019/20 lost 0-2 QF (h)
2023/24 lost 0-2 QF (a)

Champions League:
Baku the net!

Qarabag FK  1  Newcastle  6 (SIX)

"This is the best trip..." sang the travelling fans in Baku's Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium on Wednesday and they were right to do so, as the Magpies rewarded them for a 5,000 mile pilgrimage with a record-breaking display.

The lengthiest competitive trek in the club's history saw Newcastle record their equal largest margin of victory in a European away game, scoring six goals for the first time anywhere in their entire 149 game history of UEFA ties.

United's own Wizard of Az was Anthony Gordon, the first Magpie ever to score four goals in one European game - all coming during an incredible opening half in which he also contrived to waste two other credible chances.

Malick Thiaw also continued his scoring run before second half substitute Jacob Murphy rounded off the victory after Qarabag had got one back shortly after the interval.

Gordon's first came when he ran on to Dan Burn's precise pass in the third minute before firing home and when Thiaw headed in a Kieran Trippier cross just five minutes later, a place in the last 16 of the competition looked assured.

2-0 became 3-0 after the half hour when VAR highlighted UEFA's illogical protocols and United earned a penalty for an obviously accidental handball by Matheus Silva.

Gordon rattled that in and then completed his treble almost from the restart, as the home side totally capitulated and allowed the United number 10 a clear route to goal.

Following 45 minutes of constant attacking by the visitors that Qarabag goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski attempted to repel single-handedly with some success, the Polish custodian upended Gordon to concede another spot kick.

A brief conversation involving Trippier seemed to suggest that Woltemade be given the ball, but Gordon paid no heed and smashed in his fourth and Newcastle's fifth.

Words were exchanged between Gordon and Trippier as the players left the field, with several colleagues keeping them apart. Both appeared in an unchanged second half line-up however, and it was all smiles by the final whistle.

Nick Pope was caught out by a close range shot confirmed after a VAR check for offside, but normal service resumed after Murphy's shot deflected in off Badavi Huseynov and more United goals loomed: Dan Burn, Thiaw, William Osula and debutant Sean Neave all close in the latter stages.

What looked a daunting quartet of away fixtures nine days ago now sees Eddie Howe and his players head to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday following a trio of victories and 11 goals scored despite the absence of their number nine.

That return to form may not alter Saturday's outcome, but in terms of confidence and positivity, we're light years away from the side booed off at after losing to Brentford and making it three demoralising defeats on the bounce.

Returning to Europe, barring an unprecedented turnaround in next Wednesday's second leg at SJP, United will take their place in the two-legged Round of 16 as follows:

Tue 10.03 or Wed 11.03.2026 Barcelona or Chelsea (h)
Tue 17.03 or Wed 18.03.2026 Barcelona or Chelsea (a)

The Round of 16 draw which will determine the opposition takes place on Friday week, February 27th.

Team: Pope, Trippier (Joelinton 77), Hall, Thiaw, Burn, Tonali, Willock (Ramsey 68), Barnes (Neave 87), Woltemade, Elanga (J.Murphy 68), Gordon (Osula 68).
Subs n/u: A.Harris, Ruddy, Ramsdale, A.Murphy, Shahar.

Goals: Gordon, 3, 32pen, 33, 45+1pen, Thiaw 8, J.Murphy 72.

Booking: Thiaw

Thiaw's yellow card means that he'll be banned for next week's return leg. Dan Burn and Joelinton both remain one booking away from suspension in this competition.

QFK: Kochalski, Matheus Silva, Cafarquliyev, Medina, Mustafazada (Bolt 22), Pedro Bicalho, Jankovic, Leandro Andrade (B.Huseynov 46), Montiel (Borges 85), Zoubir (Addai 85), Duran (Qurbanli 88)
Subs n/u: Bayramov, Buntic, Cabrayilzada, A.Huseynov, Kashchuk, Mmaee, Ramazanov. 

Goal: Cafarguliyev 54

Crowd: 28,861. United were allocated 1,998 tickets.

Qarabag's mascot - a horse - was treated to choruses of, "you're getting punched in the morning" by Toon fans....

(thanks to SM and MA for the photos)

Eddie Howe said:

"It was an outstanding display, probably one of our best in a long time. Qarabag were unfortunate to face us in that kind of form. They showed their quality and had their moments, but overall, I thought we defended well.

"Our idea is always to be on the front foot. We want to attack first – that’s how we approach every game. We believed in the team we selected, with a lot of attacking intent on the pitch.

"Sometimes it comes together like it did tonight, sometimes it doesn’t, but we’re delighted with the level every player reached.

"It looks like with the run of away games that we’ve had, we’ve learned how to play away!

"I pay tribute to the team today. That first half is as good as we’ve played in a long time. We were really good.

"We know the tie isn’t dead. We know we have to be professional. We’ve won three games in the blink of an eye and the feeling is very different.

"We obviously wanted to keep the momentum in the second half. The game changed. They played a lot lower on the pitch and made it more difficult for us.

"It took us a little period of the game to adjust to that and then I thought we were good again towards the end. So, overall, it's just a great day for us.

"We know the tie's not over, but we've put ourselves in a great position. I just think we've got to be professional in every moment. We know how football can change. We respect every opponent, and we have to be very good in the next game."

On Anthony Gordon:

"I think he's been really good in that (centre forward) position. Looking back to the Liverpool game, where I thought he was excellent, he scores.

"He's shown he wants to play there and then he's got the quality to play there. His pressing today was incredible for us. That gave us the platform to rebuild off of his work.

"Of course he's taken the four goals and will get the headlines, naturally, but his all-round game was really strong.

"He was really, really good in that first half. I think he started the press. A number of his goals came from his attitude off the ball. I'm really pleased with his first goal as well, because that was a key moment. It was a really good finish."

On Nick Woltemade:

"I thought Nick was really good today. I thought off the ball, excellent tactically and he really understood what was asked of him. But very reliable in possession – I don't think he gave a ball away.

"I thought he was very good in some awkward situations. He's also got that creative flair that we need in that position on the pitch. So he can be really pleased with his day."

On Malick Thiaw's booking and suspension:

"I don't see it as a blessing, I see it as a negative because we're really stretched in that position.

"Of course it gives us no debate, we have to give Malick a rest. He's probably been in need of that for a while, so in some senses that could be a positive then, but I don't think it's a positive for the team."

Referee: Espen Eskas (Norway)

VAR: Rob Dieperink (Netherlands)

Stats:

The first treble of Anthony Gordon's senior career was the sixth hat-trick scored by a Newcastle player in Europe after Rob Lee, Andy Cole, Tino Asprilla and Alan Shearer (twice).

Gordon became the first Magpie to score four goals in any European tie on the night that the club scored more than five times in any European game for the first time.

Gordon now has 10 European goals, all in the Champions League this season. That total puts him level in the all-time club scoring list alongside Wyn Davies, with Craig Bellamy (11), Shola Ameobi (15) and Alan Shearer (30) ahead.

His opener is Newcastle's earliest in the Champions League and in the top five fastest European strikes for the club:

1 min Rob Lee v Royal Antwerp (a) (UE)
2 mins Pop Robson v Real Zaragoza (h) (FC)
2 mins Nobby Solano v Troyes (h) (IC)
3 mins Patrick Kluivert v Sakhnin (h) (UE)
3 mins Anthony Gordon v Qarabag (a) (CL)
4 mins Michael Chopra v Dubnica (a) (IC)

There was a senior competitive debut from the bench for 18 year-old forward Sean Neave.

Malick Thiaw scored his first European goal for United, having netted at Real Madrid for AC Milan in the same competition. He now has five goals as a Magpie.

Jacob Murphy made it 24 goals in a Newcastle shirt in all competitions (but he's yet to get on in the FA Cup). His maiden European strike was the club's 250th and he's the 76th different United player to score (not including OGs).

Geordies in the Champions League - away from SJP:

1997/98 Croatia Zagreb (a) Drew 2-2
1997/98 Dynamo Kiev (a) Drew 2-2
1997/98 PSV Eindhoven (a) Lost 0-1
1997/98 Barcelona (a) Lost 0-1
2002/03 Zeljeznicar (a) Won 1-0 (qualifier)
2002/03 Dynamo Kiev (a) Lost 0-2
2002/03 Juventus (a) Lost 0-2
2002/03 Feyenoord (a) Won 3-2
2002/03 Barcelona (a) Lost 1-3
2002/03 Bayer Leverkusen (a) Won 3-1
2002/03 Inter Milan (a) Drew 2-2
2003/04 Partizan Belgrade (a) Won 1-0 (qualifier)
2023/24 AC Milan (a) Drew 0-0
2023/24 Borussia Dortmund (a) Lost 0-2
2023/24 PSG (a) Drew 1-1
2025/26 USG (a) Won 4-0
2025/26 Marseille (a) Lost 1-2
2025/26 Bayer Leverkusen (a) Drew 2-2
2025/26 PSG (a) Drew 1-1
2025/26 Qarabag (a) Won 6-1 (playoff)

Update:
Magpin giveaway

* quickly cancelled

From the BBC, Monday:

Referee Chris Kavanagh and his assistant Nick Greenhalgh have not been selected for a Premier League game this weekend.

The pair were heavily criticised for their decisions in the fourth round FA Cup tie between Aston Villa and Newcastle United on Saturday, in which there was no video assistant referee.

Referees' body Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) bases its selections on factors including post-match performance assessments conducted by an independent Key Match Incidents panel, ensuring accountability for officials.

However, despite the criticism Kavanagh is highly regarded and in December was promoted to Uefa's elite list of referees to join Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor.

The other assistant at Villa Park, Gary Beswick, has been appointed to Nottingham Forest versus Liverpool on Sunday.

Basically, a slight slap on the wrists for the pair although Beswick escapes censure despite also missing the Jacob Murphy assault by Lucas Digne which happened just feet (literally) away from him.

Meanwhile, the root of all officiating evil, PGMO boss Howard Webb, remains unanswerable to anyone. One of his advocates, ex-referee Chris Foy, speaking on TalkSport claimed Webb is the hardest working person he knows. That just makes his ineptitude all the worse....

Meanwhile, Kavanagh joins his own group of elite referees; he, Uriah Rennie, Steve Bennett, Brian Coddington and Trelford Mills as the worst ever seen by Newcastle fans.

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Magpies @ Citizens PL era:

(Etihad since 2003/04, Maine Road before that)

Latest PL result/fixtures:

Wed 18.02.2026:
Wolves 2-2 Arsenal

Sat 21.02.2026:
Aston Villa v Leeds United (3pm)
Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion (3pm)
Chelsea v Burnley (3pm
West Ham v Bournemouth (5.30pm) Sky
Manchester City v Newcastle (8pm) TNT

Sun 22.02.2026:
Crystal Palace v Wolves (2pm)
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool (2pm)
mackems v Fulham (2pm) Sky
Spurs v Arsenal (4.30pm) Sky

Match report

Following his departure from Rennes, Habib Beye has taken charge of fellow Ligue 1 side Marseille. The former full back ended a four year stint at the Velodrome when joining Newcastle back in 2007.