Qarabağ vs Newcastle Champions League preview: Where to watch, predicted line-ups, form, quotes

Qarabağ host Newcastle in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off first leg on 18 February.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

What you need to know?

Qarabağ have made history by reaching the knockout phase, becoming the first team from Azerbaijan to advance from the group stage/league phase of this competition. Though their league phase ended with a 6-0 loss to Liverpool, coach Gurban Gurbanov was keen to focus on the positives of their record-breaking effort: "Looking back at our eight-game journey in the league phase, we overcame a lot of hurdles."

Twelfth-place finishers in the league phase, Newcastle are the next hurdle in Qarabağ's path. The Magpies journey to Baku after building a reputation for resolute defending in the league phase – only Arsenal (four) conceded less than their seven goals – while wingers Harvey Barnes (five) and Anthony Gordon (six) were among the top scorers.

Possible line-ups

Qarabağ: Kochalski; Silva, Mustafazade, Medina, Jafarguliyev; Bicalho, Janković; Leandro Andrade, Montiel, Zoubir; Duran

Newcastle: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Willock, Tonali, Ramsey; Elanga, Gordon, Barnes

Form guide

Qarabağ

Form: WWLWLL (all competitions, most recent first)
Latest: Mil-Muğan 0-1 Qarabağ, 14/02, Azerbaijani Premier League

Newcastle

Form: WWLLLD
Latest: Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle, 14/02, English FA Cup

Views from the camps

Gurban Gurbanov, Qarabağ coach: "Newcastle United are a well-known and well-established club. They have a style of play that does not suit us. No team in England wants to play against Newcastle, because they do not allow their opponents to play their game. We want to play a brave, intelligent game on our own pitch. Our opponents have the edge on us in a number of ways, but I believe my players will give their best."

Eddie Howe, Newcastle coach: "This is a new opportunity for us; to get to the last 16 of this competition would be an incredible achievement, and we're trying to embrace it in that way. We're trying to look at the excitement and the possibility, rather than feel too much of the pressure of the occasion. We want to turn these moments and these games into history, opportunities, into moments that people talk about for a long, long time."

Reporter's view

Teymur Maksutov, match reporter: As they await their first meeting with Newcastle, Qarabağ have few fond memories of their previous nine encounters with English clubs (D1 L8). On Matchday 8, the Azerbaijani champions lost 6-0 at Liverpool but a 2-2 draw at home against Chelsea on Matchday 4 was more encouraging. Neither side are having dream seasons domestically; for the first time in years, Qarabağ are not top of the league in February, while Newcastle United are tenth in the Premier League, though both teams have won their last two matches.