Qarabag v Newcastle: Match Preview, Team News, Prediction

Qarabag FK and Newcastle United face off at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in the first leg of their knockout phase playoff today at 9.45pm local time 5.45pm GMT.

Match Preview

Winless in three of our four away matches in Europe this term, Eddie Howe will hope for an encouraging performance and result in Baku by taking a positive scoreline into next week’s reverse fixture at St James’ Park.

Although we only have one away win in the group stage, we only have one defeat, the other two games ending in well earned draws including that superb performance away to PSG.

If any Qarabag supporter had been told before a ball was kicked in this season’s Champions League that the Horsemen would still be involved in the competition at this stage, they would have found it hard to believe. But here they are.

The Azerbaijani club had never won a game in the competition in their history until defeating Benfica in September, a win that was followed by victories against Copenhagen and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Qarabag also came from behind in two of those wins, including from 2-0 down away to Benfica before a remarkable fight back that secured three points in a brilliant 3-2 win.

They also drew 2-2 with Chelsea, the only time in eight meetings with an English club where the match hasn't ended in a defeat. Qarabag ended the group stage with a 6-0 hammering at Liverpool but that result was a one off in a fine CL campaign.

Newcastle go into the game with momentum from recent away wins over Spurs and Aston Villa, seeking to record three victories in a row across all competitions for the third time this season.

A win in Baku would also make it three away victories in succession - a dramatic turnaround to our poor away record overall this term.

Team News

Eddie will again be without Bruno Guimaraes who joins Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar, Lewis Miley and Emil Krafth on the injury list - the latter now ruled out for the season.

Jo is fit and returns to the squad but Sven Botman hasn't travelled.

Qarabag's main injury is to first choice keeper Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev and he is not expected to make tonight's game.

Match Prediction

It's always an advantage playing the away tie first and the main objective is not to return to SJP with a deficit of two goals or more.

That's not to say that I expect Eddie to set up defensively but Qarabag cannot be underestimated and they will be come out flying in front a fanatical sell out crowd.

Newcastle going ahead will not deter the Horsemen who have rode out winners after going behind against Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt.

However, Qarabag's all out attack spurred on by a roaring crowd might be their downfall.

They will leave themselves open to being caught on the break and that is where I am expecting our pace and quality to hurt Qarabag and get the result we are hoping for.

It may be that I am still under the influence of a few whisky's last night but I have a feeling that, with our confidence high after two away wins, the Lads will turn in a performance in Baku that will see us romp home against the Horsemen,

So, my usual fiver is going on a thumping 3-0 win.

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