Last Updated on 18/02/2026 by Andy Clark
Qarabag FK vs Newcastle United Match Preview
This is a historic night in Baku as Qarabag FK hosts Newcastle United in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie. It’s the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, and both sides are experiencing this stage of the competition for the first time.
Qarabag arrive with confidence, especially on home soil. They have scored at least twice in every Champions League match played in Baku this season and have already beaten Copenhagen and Eintracht Frankfurt at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium. Camilo Durán has been central to that success, scoring four goals in the competition and consistently stepping up in big moments.
Newcastle, meanwhile, head into this trip knowing it will not be straightforward. They finished the league phase only two places above Qarabag and have struggled away from home in Europe, managing just one win on the road. Injuries have not helped either, with several key players ruled out, putting extra responsibility on Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes in attack.
Everything points towards an open first leg. Qarabag are fearless at home and attack with numbers, while Newcastle have enough quality going forward to hurt the hosts but remain vulnerable defensively, especially away from St James’ Park.
Qarabag FK vs Newcastle United Best Bet
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Qarabag games in Baku tend to open up. They have scored at least two goals in every Champions League home match, but they’ve also conceded heavily. Newcastle have scored 17 goals in eight UCL games and have found the net in all league-phase matches. With both sides stronger going forward than at the back, three goals feels very achievable.
Qarabag FK vs Newcastle United Score Prediction
Qarabag FK 1–3 Newcastle United – Coral’s sign-up offer gets you £30 in free bets when you bet £5.
Qarabag should create chances and get on the scoresheet, but Newcastle’s attacking edge could prove decisive, allowing them to take a valuable advantage back to England ahead of the second leg.
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More from Thatsagoal in February
As well as our Premier League predictions for all the upcoming fixtures, we also have you covered for bet builder tips ahead of the weekend action. We will pick out the best bets for each match and add them to a bet builder. Once you have picked out your football tips, you will need some free bets to use and there are plenty available at the moment, including the Midnite welcome offer and BetGoodwin’s welcome bonus for new customers.
If you have used all the well-known bookmakers before, then look through the list of new UK bookies who also have sign-up bonuses.
If horse racing is more your thing, our Cheltenham 2026 tips are in full swing with predictions already made for most of the 28 races. Cheltenham free bets are starting to emerge as well, and there is a quick list of offers below, which you should start signing up for and saving the free bets for Cheltenham week, starting Tuesday, 10th March.
Midnite £30 Cheltenham sign-up offer.
BetGoodwin £10 Cheltenham sign-up offer.
bet365 £30 Cheltenham sign-up offer.
BetVictor £30 Cheltenham sign-up offer.
Andy is the founder, owner and editor of thatsagoal.com, with over 20 years of experience in betting on sports. He has a keen eye for stats, particularly when looking at players to be carded, and these form a large part of the bet builder tips you see on the site. As well as creating daily football tips, Andy also keeps thatsagoal updated with all the best bookmaker promotions and offers for our readers. The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest weeks on the sporting calendar, and his expertise in betting promotions and marketing means you always get the best offers.
