Newcastle United face Qarabag FK in the Champions League knockout phase playoff first leg on Tuesday 17 February. The Magpies finished 12th in the league phase and are heavy favourites to advance to the Round of 16. Here are our predictions and betting tips.

Match Details

Date: Tuesday 17 February 2026, 20:00 GMT
Venue: Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku
Competition: Champions League Knockout Playoff — First Leg

Form Guide

Newcastle qualified for the playoffs in comfortable fashion, finishing 12th in the 36-team league phase with 15 points from eight matches. Eddie Howe’s side drew 1-1 with PSG in their final group game on 28 January, a result that underlined their quality at this level.

Qarabag, meanwhile, scraped through in 23rd place with just eight points. The Azerbaijani champions have never progressed beyond the group stage of any major European competition, and the step up in quality from the league phase to facing a Premier League side will be enormous.

Key Players

Newcastle: Alexander Isak has been in superb form this season with 15 goals in all competitions. Bruno Guimaraes continues to pull the strings in midfield, while Anthony Gordon’s directness on the left flank will be key to breaking down a compact Qarabag defence.

Qarabag: Brazilian forward Juninho has been their standout performer, scoring in three of their eight league phase matches. Captain Rashad Sadygov brings invaluable experience at the back.

Our Predictions

Correct Score: Qarabag 0-2 Newcastle @ 6/1
Both Teams to Score: No @ 4/5
Alexander Isak Anytime Goalscorer: @ 6/5
Newcastle to Win & Under 3.5 Goals: @ 5/4

Newcastle should approach this tie with confidence but also caution. Away legs in Azerbaijan are notoriously tricky — the long travel, artificial pitch, and hostile atmosphere can unsettle even the best sides. We expect Howe to set up pragmatically and take a clean sheet back to St James’ Park.

Best Bet: Newcastle to win to nil @ 11/8

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