Newcastle United 3-2 Qarabag Player Ratings: Magpies Cruise to UCL Knockouts with Thumping Victory

Newcastle United picked up a commendable 3-2 win over Qarabağ FK in an end-to-end Champions League clash at St James' Park.

The Magpies made a perfect start, scoring twice inside the opening six minutes. Sandro Tonali opened the scoring before Joelinton quickly added a second, putting Newcastle in early control.

But Qarabağ responded with determination and fought their way back into the game. The second half turned into an end-to-end battle, with chances at both sides of the pitch. A key moment came when goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saved a penalty to protect Newcastle’s narrow lead.

Despite late pressure from the visitors, Newcastle United held firm to secure an important victory in an unforgettable five-goal encounter.

Key Takeaways

1. Sandro Tonali and Joelinton scored twice in the first six minutes for Newcastle United.
2. Qarabağ FK fought back to make it a tense 3-2 contest.
3. Aaron Ramsdale saved a crucial penalty to secure the win.

Newcastle Player Ratings vs Qarabag

Check out Newcastle player ratings from the UCL playoff against Qarabag:

Goalkeeper

Aaron Ramsdale - 7.5: What a massive moment from the keeper. The penalty save was genuinely match-winning, a huge stop when Qarabağ were pushing hard. He made four saves in total, including a couple of smart stops from distance. We noticed he looked a little uncertain on a cross or two, which is why he doesn't get a higher rating. But when the pressure was on, he delivered the goods. Without that save, the result could have been very different.

Defenders

Kieran Trippier - 7.0: The captain was his usual reliable self before being subbed early. He provided a lovely assist, showing his quality in the final third once again. Defensively he was sound and his leadership was evident from the start. It was a shame to see him go off, as the team lost a bit of composure after. A solid, if short, performance.

Sven Botman - 7.5: Scored a thumping header at a crucial time. Just as Qarabağ got a goal back, he rose highest to restore the two-goal cushion. That's what you want from your big center-back. His one error led to a shot, which was a nervy moment. But his goal was so important it overshadows that slight mistake. He was dominant in the air for most of the game.

Dan Burn - 5.5: A really clumsy night for the big man, from our perspective. Conceding the penalty for handball was just a moment of panic. He seemed a step off the pace throughout the second half and committed a couple of needless fouls. He struggled against their quicker attackers. Not his best night in a Newcastle shirt by a long stretch.

Alex Murphy - 6.5: A decent performance under pressure for the youngster. He had to be on his toes as Qarabağ grew into the game. He made some key interceptions and wasn't afraid to put a tackle in. He lost possession a few times, but you could see him learning on the job. A valuable experience for him.

Midfielders

Joelinton - 8.0: What a powerhouse performance before he was taken off. He took his goal with supreme confidence, a brilliant finish into the top corner. What stood out to us was his 100% pass accuracy, just incredible for a player in his position. He bossed the midfield, winning duels and driving the team forward. His substitution seemed to change the dynamic of the game.

Sandro Tonali - 8.5: Our man of the match, without a doubt. He got the party started with the opening goal, a real poacher's finish. Beyond the goal, he was the heartbeat of the team, dictating play from deep and creating three chances for his teammates. He looked a class apart, so calm and composed on the ball. The highest rated player on the pitch for a reason.

Nick Woltemade - 7.0: A very busy and creative display. He was constantly looking to make things happen, creating three chances and linking up play well. He was a bit unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself. Sometimes his final decision could have been better, but his movement was a constant problem for the opposition defence. A positive influence.

Forwards

Harvey Barnes - 8.0: A fantastic contribution with two big chances created and an assist. His direct running and pace were a nightmare for the Qarabağ defence. Every time he got the ball, you felt something was going to happen. He was a constant outlet for the team and his end product was spot on. A brilliant attacking performance.

William Osula - 6.0: It was a tough night for the forward. He worked his socks off, pressing from the front, but lacked that bit of quality when it mattered. He had a big chance early on that was well saved. He just couldn't seem to get into the game and his substitution wasn't a surprise. An honest effort but not his day.

Jacob Murphy - 6.5: Classic Jacob Murphy performance. He ran tirelessly and never stopped trying to make things happen. However, he missed a big chance and his final ball was often frustrating. You can never fault his work rate, and he recovered the ball eight times, which is impressive. Just needs that extra bit of composure.

Substitutes

Substitutes: Lewis Hall, Joe Willock, Anthony Gordon, Yoane Wissa, and Leo Shahar were all brought on to see the game out or inject fresh legs. They helped Newcastle United manage a chaotic final period and secure the victory, though the team's structure did seem to suffer slightly with the changes.

Manager

E. Howe - 7.0: His game plan worked to perfection in the first ten minutes. The team was aggressive, direct, and clinical. However, he'll be concerned with how they lost control and allowed Qarabağ back into the game so easily. The substitutions were logical to rest players but seemed to disrupt the team's rhythm. In the end, it's a win in a knockout Champions League tie, and that's the bottom line.

Qarabag Player Ratings vs Newcastle United

Here are Qarabag player ratings from the UCL match against Newcastle:

Goalkeeper

Mateusz Kochalski - 6.5: It's tough for a keeper when you concede three goals, especially two so early. But he also made five saves to prevent a total blowout. He stood tall and made some important stops as Newcastle pushed for more. He couldn't do much about any of the goals, to be fair. A respectable performance in difficult circumstances.

Defenders

Matheus Silva - 5.0: A torrid evening for the defender. He was completely overwhelmed by Newcastle's early attacking blitz. He struggled to cope with the movement of Barnes and was often caught out of position. From our perspective, he was the weakest link in the backline and it's no surprise he was the lowest-rated player.

Badavi Hüseynov - 6.0: The captain had a difficult task trying to marshal a defence under siege. He made a massive eight clearances, throwing himself in front of everything. However, the defence was far too disorganised in the opening stages. He also missed a decent chance with a header. A valiant but ultimately losing battle.

Kevin Medina - 6.5: He was in the thick of the action all night. He made nine successful duels and four tackles, showing his commitment. On the other hand, he lost possession a staggering 17 times which put his team under pressure. A very mixed performance, full of action both good and bad.

Midfielders

Marko Jankovic - 5.5: Missing the penalty was the crucial moment of his match, and perhaps the tie. At 3-2, a goal there would have changed everything. It was a poor penalty, easily saved. Outside of that, his passing was neat but he failed to make a real impact on the game. A huge opportunity missed.

Dani Bolt - 6.0: A battler in the midfield, but he was fighting a losing cause for much of the game. He was dribbled past four times, which shows how much Newcastle United's midfield dominated. He worked hard and made a couple of tackles, but was largely ineffective against superior opposition.

Pedro Bicalho - 6.0: He put in a solid defensive shift, making three tackles and three interceptions. He was booked for a cynical foul, showing his frustration. Like his midfield partners, he struggled to retain possession and was often chasing shadows. A hard-working but limited display.

Elvin Cafarquliyev - 7.5: He was the brightest spark for Qarabağ. He took his goal brilliantly, showing great composure to bring his team back into the game. He was a constant threat with his running and looked the most likely to create something. It was a surprise to see him substituted, as he was their best player.

Forwards

Joni Montiel - 7.0: He provided the assist for his team's first goal and created three chances in total. He was the main creative outlet for Qarabağ. However, a personal error of his led to a goal, which is a big black mark against his name. A frustrating mix of quality and carelessness.

Abdellah Zoubir - 6.5: Very tidy in possession, with a 93% pass completion rate. He had one shot on target that was well saved. He worked hard for the team but struggled to find space against a packed defence. A neat and tidy performance without much end product.

Camilo Durán - 7.0: He gave his team a lifeline with a well-taken goal. He looked sharp and dangerous until an unfortunate injury forced him off. His departure was a blow for Qarabağ as they were just starting to build momentum. A good showing cut short.

Substitutes

Substitutes: Kady Borges, Oleksii Kashchuk, Musa Qurbanli, and Toral Bayramov were introduced to chase the game. They brought fresh energy and helped Qarabağ push for an equalizer in the final stages, but ultimately they couldn't find the breakthrough against a resolute Newcastle United defence.

Manager

Q. Qurbanov - 6.5: His team looked completely shell-shocked at the start. The initial game plan was torn to shreds in six minutes. But we have to give him huge credit for the way his team responded. They showed incredible fight and character to get back into the game and could have snatched a draw. He'll be proud of the spirit, if not the initial defending.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Sandro Tonali.

Worst Performer

Matheus Silva looked helpless in front of the Newcastle attack.