Qarabag 1-6 Newcastle Highlights, UEFA Champions League: Gordon Nets Four As Magpies Run Riot In Baku

Hello, football fans! This is the start of our live blog covering the Champions League knockout match between Qarabag and Newcastle. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and line-ups as they are released.

• Fixture: Qarabag vs Newcastle United

• Series: UEFA Champions League 2025-26

• Venue: Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku

• Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

• Time: 11:15 PM IST

The UEFA Champions League matches, including Qarabag vs Newcastle, will be live-streamed in India on the SonyLIV app and website. The match will also be televised live on the Sony TEN 2, 3, and 4 (SD & HD) channels.

Starting XI: Mateusz Kochalski; Matheus Silva, Bahlul Mustafazada, Kevin Medina, Elvin Cafarquliyev; Pedro Bicalho, Marko Jankovic; Leandro Andrade, Jonathan Montiel, Abdellah Zoubir (c); Camilo Duran.

Bench: Fabijan Buntic (gk), Amin Ramazanov (g), Emmanuel Addai, Toral Bayramov, Hikmat Cabrayilzada, Dani Bolt, Abbad Huseynov, Badavi Huseynov, Kady Borges, Oleksii Kashchuk, Samy Mmaee, Musa Qurbanly.

Starting XI: Nick Pope; Kieran Trippier (c), Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall; Sandro Tonali, Nick Woltemade, Joe Willock; Anthony Elanga, Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes.

Bench: Aaron Ramsdale (gk), John Ruddy (gk), Aidan Harris (gk), Joelinton, Alex Murphy, Jacob Murphy, Sean Neave, William Osula, Jacob Ramsey, Leo Shahar.

The UEFA Champions League was hit a massive scandal last night, with Vinicius accusing Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of using a racial slur against him. Amid the back and forth between the teams and players on social media, UEFA has launched an investigation into this very serious matter. Hopefully, tonight's matches will be above such incidents.

Referee Espen Eskas blows his whistle, and Newcastle get tonight's Champions League match underway in Baku. Stay tuned!

Just under three minutes on the clock, and Gordon puts Newcastle ahead!! A brilliant effort by the former Everton man, who slipped past his marker and fired a clinical shot past Kochalski. No chance for the goalkeeper.

Thiaw doubles Newcastle's lead inside the opening 10 minutes!! Absolutely clinical from Trippier, who floated in an inch-perfect cross from the left flank towards the far post for Thiaw to leap above everyone else in the box and head past the goalkeeper. This is turning into a rout.

It goes from bad to worse for Qarabag as they are forced into an early substitution. Mustafazade, who went down in some pain moments earlier, is brought off by Qurban Qurbanov. Dani Bolt comes on in his place.

Gordon scores from the spot to make it three for Newcastle! It was a cruel penalty decision against the home side, with VAR asking the referee to take a look at the monitor for a handball claim against Matheus Silva. The Brazilian defender came sliding in and had little idea, but the decision goes against him.

What just happened?! From Qarabag's own kick-off, Gordon steals the ball from the defender and darts past the goalkeeper before poking the ball into the back of the net for his hat-trick. This is all too easy for Newcastle.

Another penalty for Newcastle, and it's Gordon at the heart of it. Gordon steals the ball from the defence, again, and forces the goalkeeper to rush out to steal the ball. He catches the player, instead, and it's an easy decision for the referee. Gordon makes no mistake from the spot for his fourth of the night.

Both sets of players are out of the tunnel and onto the pitch. One change for Qarabag at the break, with Leandro Andrade being replaced by Huseynov.

The entire stadium erupted in joy after Jafarquliyev thought he had sneaked the ball past Pope from extremely tight angle. However, even before the Qarabag player can wheel off in celebration, the referee signals offside.

After a VAR check, the goal stands!! Qarabag have pulled one goal back. There's a mountain to climb ahead, but this will give them some semblance of hope.

Just when Qarabag were looking like they were gaining some foothold into the match, Newcastle get their sixth of the night. Jacob Murphy is the player to find the back of the net, cutting in from the right flank before pulling the trigger. A big defletion from a defender takes it past Kochalski.