Newcastle v Qarabag: Match Preview, Team News, Prediction

After the 6-1 win in Baku the outcome of the tie, barring a miracle, will see Newcastle progress into the last 16 of the Champions League.

Match Preview

The match in Baku saw Anthony Gordon send records tumbling scoring a fabulous four goals to effectively end the playoff tie as a contest.

Those records included he fastest hat-trick from an English player in the competition, the first Newcastle player to score four in a CL game, and he is now the Magpies' highest scorer in a Champions League campaign with 10 goals.

Gordon's four goals helped the Toon to a 6-1 victory and the omens for going through to the knock out stage couldn't be more in our favour.

In 91 occasions where a team has been 5+ goals ahead in the CL after the first leg, all 91 high scorers have won the tie. That is definitely a record we don;t want to break.

Having said that our strong home form has faltered recently.

We've lost three of our last four matches in all competitions at SJP, while also conceding 2+ goals in five of our last six. Another bump in an up and down season.

Qarabag can hold their heads high when they step out at SJP despite conceding six goals in consecutive CL matches.

The Azerbaijani minnows have swam with the big fish in the Chamions League and beaten Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Copenhagen and drawn with Chelsea.

They have shown spirit in spades by twice winning from a losing position, scoring some of the outstanding goals in the group stage.

I am sure their supporters will be welcomed by Newcastle fans and Qarabag deserve to be applauded off the pitch at the end of the game. They have competed at the highest level and done the Azerbaijani nation proud.

Team News

Botman and Wissa should be available after injury but Malik Thiaw will miss the game with a one match suspension.

With a commanding lead Eddie Howe has to decide whether to blood some of the youngsters or play safe and rotate the first team squad.

On current Bingo form - if you want to know the team prior to Eddie pinning it up just check Barry Paul Hendry's Bingo entry.

He has got the team spot on in the last last two games. The only 'eyes downer' to do so.

Match Prediction

Newcastle will be odds on favourites by a country mile to win the game.

Most fans will be thinking by 'how many' and my guess is that there will be a bob or two going on hat trick or first goal and correct score bets to win a bob or three if they come up.

My usual fiver is going on Willock to score the first goal and the Lads to win 4-1.

If we are a goal or three ahead when Qarabag score I hope the crowd cheer as loudly as heir fans and, in any event, that the minnows from Baku are applauded off the pitch at full time.

As long as they haven't become the first team in 92 CL matches to turn around a 5+ goal deficit :)

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