Newcastle United: Howe’s side ‘can hurt’ any Champions League team

Newcastle United are on the verge of reaching the Champions League last 16 after a dominant 6-1 victory over Qarabag in Baku on Wednesday, with manager Eddie Howe cautioning against complacency despite the commanding first-leg result.

Anthony Gordon spearheaded the attack, scoring four goals – two from the penalty spot – as Newcastle dismantled the Azerbaijani champions. Malick Thiaw and Jacob Murphy likewise found the net for the Magpies. Elvin Jafarguliyev scored a consolation goal for Qarabag.

The win marks Newcastle’s largest margin of victory in the Champions League, and places them among an elite group of teams to lead a knockout-stage game by five or more goals at halftime, a feat previously achieved only by Bayern Munich against Porto in 2015, according to reports.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Howe praised his team’s performance, stating, “A tribute to the team today. We were really good in the first half. That’s as good as we have played in a long time.” He also emphasized the importance of maintaining focus ahead of the second leg, adding, “We know the tie isn’t dead or over, but we are in a great position.”

Gordon’s performance was particularly noteworthy, not only for his four goals but also for his overall contribution to the team’s pressing game. Howe highlighted this, saying, “He was really good in that first half. He started the press – a number of his goals came from his attitude off the ball. He could have had more, but a very good display.”

The victory also saw Gordon surpass Shay Given to grow Newcastle’s all-time leading appearance maker in the Champions League with 15 appearances. He also overtook Alan Shearer to become the club’s top scorer in the competition, with 10 goals. He is the second Englishman to reach double figures for goals in a single Champions League season, following Harry Kane’s 11 goals for Bayern Munich in the 2024-25 season.

Despite the significant advantage, Howe remains cautious, acknowledging the challenges that may arise in the second leg at St James’ Park next Tuesday. He told TNT Sports, “We wanted to preserve the momentum in the second half. The game changed and they played lower on the pitch, which made it more difficult for us.”

Newcastle will now await the outcome of the tie between Barcelona and Chelsea to discover their opponents in the last 16. The draw for the next round is scheduled for next Friday.