Anthony Gordon scores four as Newcastle cruise to big win over Qarabag in Champions League play-off

The Toon ended in 12th place on the 2025/26 table after their eight games to set up a tie with the 22nd placed finisher.

The gulf between the Premier League side and the Azerbaijan Premier League champions was vast though, with Anthony Gordon the difference on the night with four goals.

Gordon opened his account after just three minutes before a quick-fire Malick Thiaw goal just five minutes later.

Gordon added a second from the penalty spot on 32 minutes and was on target again just one minute later from open play. He completed his rout with a second spot-kick on the stroke of half-time, and Jacob Murphy wrapped up procedings with his effort after 72 minutes.

Elvin Cafarguliyev had briefly reduced the deficit when he netted 10 minutes into the second half.

The result left Newcastle with one foot in the next round of competition and Qarabag with a very unlikely chance of overturning this result in the second leg.

Reflecting on the tie, Toon boss Eddie Howe said the result shows his team has the qualities to make a mark in this competition.

He said in the independant: "When we're at our very best, we can be a match for anybody. I've always maintained this season that we can be, it's of course finding this level as much as we can, as consistently as we can.

"I think you could see the intense focus from the players was there from very early in the game and then we've got the quality when we're in that kind of mood.

"It's a really useful time for us to produce a display like this to hopefully just tell ourselves that we can be a top team again."

A delight Gordon added: "The records are nice, of course, but football is about the team. Individual moments only matter if the team succeeds and tonight, that was the most important thing.

“I'm very proud, not just of myself, but of everyone involved. It's never easy to come here, so I'm really happy for the whole group.”