Newcastle are in Azerbaijan tonight for a Champions League play-off against Qarabag. Follow the action with our live commentary…
Newcastle make the 5,061-mile round trip to face Qarabag tonight in the first leg of their Champions League play-off.
It is an unwanted fixture for Eddie Howe’s side who were sitting inside the top eight in the league phase before a final-day draw at Paris Saint-Germain saw them slip to 12th.
The return is next week, either side of a daunting trip to Premier League title-chasers Manchester City.
Newcastle will, at least, travel in buoyant mood following the 3-1 FA Cup fourth-round win at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Qarabag are arguably the smallest club left in the competition and their last league phase game saw them hammered 6-0 by Liverpool at Anfield.
The Azerbaijanis have recorded some notable wins in this season’s competition, however, winning 3-2 at Benfica while beating FC Copenhagen and Eintracht Frankfurt on home soil. They also drew 2-2 with Chelsea.
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QARABAG TEAM NEWS vs NEWCASTLE
Qarabag: Kochalski, Silva, Mustafazade, Medina, Jafarquliyev, Bichalho, Jankovic, Andrade, Montiel, Zoubir, Duran
NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS vs QARABAG
Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth are all ruled out for the visitors.
Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Hall, Tonali, Gordon, Barnes, Thiaw, Elanga, Woltemade, Willock, Burn
The stats for Qarabag v Newcastle
- Qarabag are the first Azerbaijani side to reach this stage of the Champions League
- The hosts have scored at least twice in three of their four home European matches this season
- Newcastle are winless in three away fixtures in the competition this term
- Anthony Gordon has six goals in this season’s Champions League
- The second leg will be played at St James’ Park
