Newcastle United travels to Baku, Azerbaijan, on Wednesday to face Qarabağ FK in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout round playoffs. This marks a crucial stage for the English side as they aim to secure a spot in the Round of 16, while Qarabağ makes its debut in the Champions League knockout phase. The match kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT (12:45 p.m. ET) at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium.
Newcastle enters the contest in good form, having secured two recent victories: a 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and a 3-1 away triumph over Aston Villa in the FA Cup. Qarabağ, however, has experienced a slight dip in domestic form, following a 6-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in their final Champions League league phase match. They also lost 2-1 to Shamakhi in the first leg of their Azerbaijan Cup quarterfinal, with wins coming by narrow margins either side of that loss.
Match Details and How to Watch
The first leg between Qarabağ and Newcastle United will be played on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan. Viewers in the UK can watch the match on TNT Sports 1, while fans in the U.S. Can tune in to Paramount+. SonyLIV will broadcast the game in India, and Stan Sport will provide coverage in Australia. ESPN will also offer live updates throughout the match.
Team News and Availability
Qarabağ head coach Qurban Qurbanov is expected to have a fully fit squad available for selection. Newcastle United, however, faces several injury concerns. Emil Krafth is sidelined with a knee injury, Fabian Schär is out due to an ankle problem, and Tino Livramento is recovering from a hamstring injury. Midfielders Bruno Guimarães (muscle) and Joelinton (thigh) are also unavailable, while Lewis Miley is a doubt with a knee injury.
Key Match Officials
The match will be officiated by Espen Eskas from Norway, with Rob Dieperink of the Netherlands serving as the VAR official.
Tonali Steps Up in Midfield
In the absence of key midfielders Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton, Sandro Tonali is expected to play a pivotal role for Newcastle. The Italian midfielder will be crucial in controlling the tempo and providing creativity in the center of the park.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the match between Qarabağ and Newcastle United went on sale on February 17, 2026, according to Azərtac. Ticket prices were also announced, offering various options for fans attending the game at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium.
The second leg of this Champions League knockout round playoff will seize place at St. James’ Park on February 24, 2026, with Newcastle hosting Qarabağ. Newcastle currently has a total goal difference of 10-8 in the competition, having scored 17 goals and conceded 7.
Newcastle will be looking to build on their recent form and secure a positive result in Baku to give themselves a strong advantage heading into the second leg. Qarabağ, meanwhile, will be hoping to capitalize on home advantage and cause an upset against the Premier League side.
What comes next for both teams will depend heavily on the outcome of these two legs. A strong performance in Azerbaijan will be vital for Newcastle’s chances of progressing to the Round of 16, while Qarabağ will need to produce a memorable display to overcome the odds.
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