Qarabag 1-6 Newcastle Player Ratings: Anthony Gordon 9.9/10 MOTM After Stunning Four-Goal Haul

From the very first whistle in Baku, it felt like this was going to be a long night for Qarabag FK. Newcastle United came out with frightening intent and blew the tie apart before the hosts could even settle. Anthony Gordon’s early strike inside three minutes set the tone, and what followed was a ruthless first-half masterclass that left the home fans stunned.

By halftime, the scoreboard read 5-0, and honestly, it could have been worse. The visitors' movement in the final third was simply too sharp. They dominated possession with 58% of the ball, fired 22 shots compared to Qarabag’s 8, and hit a staggering 14 efforts on target. The underlying numbers were even more brutal, 5.56 xG to 0.46, telling the story of complete control and domination. Gordon ran riot with 4 goals, a night he will forever remember.

The second half had a brief spark when Elvin Jafarquliyev scored a goal from a tight angle to make it 5-1. Newcastle United responded with wave after wave of pressure, eventually adding a sixth through Jacob Murphy. With 39 touches in the opposition box and 13 big chances created, this wasn’t just dominance; it was dismantling. Here are Sportsdunia's Qarabag vs Newcastle player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Qarabag’s defensive shape collapsed under continued pressure.
• The xG gap (0.46 vs 5.56) reflects how superior Newcastle United were in both departments, tactical as well as quality.
• Anthony Gordon was in unstoppable form as he made a mockery of Qarabag's defence with 4 goals.

Newcastle Player Ratings vs Qarabag

Check out the Newcastle player ratings against Qarabag.

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope - 6.5: Had one of the quietest nights of his career. He was a spectator for huge portions of the game. Made a solid save in the second half from Joni Montiel but had absolutely no chance with the goal he conceded. His distribution was tidy, with a 93% pass accuracy, though he only made 12 passes all game. A comfortable evening's work.

Defenders

Kieran Trippier - 7.5: The captain led by example before his substitution. His delivery for Thiaw's goal was, as we've come to expect, absolutely perfect. He wasn't tested defensively in any meaningful way but was always an outlet on the right. Creating a big chance and getting an assist in 77 minutes is a decent return. Job done, then an early rest.

Lewis Hall - 8.0: A really impressive, energetic performance from the young fullback. He was a constant nuisance down the left flank, completing five dribbles and winning a remarkable 10 duels. We noticed his confidence growing as the game went on, even forcing a good save with a long-range shot. He lost possession a bit too often for my liking, but his positive, forward-thinking play was a massive plus.

Malick Thiaw - 8.0: Scored a fantastic header to double the lead early on, showing great movement in the box. He was an aerial force, winning three of his four duels in the air. However, his performance was slightly marred by a needless yellow card and a couple of clumsy fouls. Despite that, scoring a goal and being part of a dominant win makes it a very good night for him.

Dan Burn - 8.5: A colossal performance. He provided a brilliant through-ball assist for the opening goal, showing vision you might not associate with him. Defensively, he was a rock making four clearances and winning most of his duels. He even had two shots on target himself, showing his threat in the opposition box. What stood out to us was his complete dominance over his side of the pitch.

Midfielders

Sandro Tonali - 7.5: The Italian maestro just oozed class in the middle of the park. He dictated the tempo with an incredible 94% pass accuracy, making everything look effortless. He created a big chance and was robust in the tackle, winning all of his attempted tackles. He just controlled the game, allowing the attacking players ahead of him to run riot.

Anthony Elanga - 6.5: Looked lively and was always willing to run at his man, but his end product was lacking. He created a couple of chances, but his passing was a bit wayward with only 63% accuracy. From our perspective, he did his job and stretched the play, but he wasn't as influential as his attacking teammates before being subbed.

Nick Woltemade - 6.5: A solid, if unspectacular, performance. He worked hard, recovered the ball, and kept his passing neat and tidy. Missed one big chance with a header he should have buried. He played his role in the system well without ever really grabbing the spotlight.

Joe Willock - 7.0: Provided his trademark energy and driving runs from midfield. He won all his tackles and was a bundle of energy for the 68 minutes he was on the pitch. He created a big chance and was unlucky not to get more involved in the goals.

Forwards

Anthony Gordon - 9.9: A perfect performance. Simply unplayable. Scoring four goals, winning a penalty, and hitting the target with all six of his shots is just sensational. His movement, his finishing, his sheer desire... Qarabag couldn't get near him. This was the kind of night that defines a player, and Gordon was operating on a different planet. The highest-rated player on the pitch by a mile and an easy Man of the Match.

Harvey Barnes - 8.0: Terribly unlucky not to score. He had six shots, three on target, and grabbed an assist for his efforts. He was a constant menace, cutting in from his flank and linking up play beautifully. He created three chances and was a key part of the devastating attack.

Substitutes

Jacob Murphy - 7.5: What an impact. Came on and scored a wonderful goal from outside the box just a few minutes later. A dream substitution.

Jacob Ramsey - 6.5: Slotted into midfield and helped see the game out with minimal fuss. Kept the ball moving well.

William Osula - 6.0: Didn't have much time to make a huge impact but drew a foul and looked eager to get involved.

Joelinton - 6.0: Brought on to give Trippier a rest. Looked solid and helped shore things up as the game wound down.

Sean Neave - N/A: Came on for the final few minutes with the game already won.

Manager

E. Howe - 9.0: His game plan was executed to perfection. He had his team fired up to press high and attack from the very first second. The decision to go for the throat early on paid off spectacularly. His substitutions were smart, resting key players and giving others valuable minutes. A tactical masterclass.

Qarabag Player Ratings vs Newcastle United

Here are Qarabag player ratings for the Qarabag vs Newcastle Champions League match.

Goalkeeper

Mateusz Kochalski - 4.0: A truly nightmarish evening. Conceding six goals is never good, and giving away a penalty for a clumsy foul just compounded his misery. To his credit, he did make six saves, some of them very good, which prevented the scoreline from entering double digits. Without him, it could have been even worse, but it was a brutal night for the keeper.

Defenders

Matheus Silva - 3.5: He looked completely overwhelmed by Newcastle's pace and movement. He committed a penalty and was part of a defensive unit that just fell apart. Won a decent number of his duels but an error leading to a shot and the penalty decision tells the story of his difficult game.

Bahlul Mustafazada - 5.0: His night was cut short by an unfortunate injury after just 22 minutes. In that time, his side had already conceded twice and he was struggling to cope. It's tough to rate him too harshly given the circumstances.

Kevin Medina - 4.0: A disastrous performance. An error leading directly to a goal is a defender's worst nightmare. He lost the ball 13 times and his long passing was erratic. He looked a yard off the pace all game and was comprehensively beaten by the movement of Newcastle's forwards.

Elvin Cafarquliyev - 6.0: The one bright spark in a dismal defensive display. He scored his team's only goal with a well-taken finish, showing great composure. That goal significantly boosts his rating. Defensively, like his teammates, he had a torrid time but he at least gave the home fans something to cheer about.

Midfielders

Marko Jankovic - 5.5: He worked hard and tried to get a foothold in midfield, winning five duels. But he was mostly bypassed by Newcastle's quick transitions. He lost possession eight times and couldn't impose himself on the game. A frustrating evening of chasing shadows.

Joni Montiel - 5.0: He was dispossessed, dribbled past, and struggled to make any real impact on the match. He had one shot on target but was otherwise anonymous. The game seemed to happen around him rather than through him. Subbed off after a tough 85 minutes.

Abdellah Zoubir - 6.0: The captain tried to lead the fightback. He provided a clever assist for his team's goal and created three chances in total. He was one of the few Qarabağ players who looked like he could cause a problem. However, he was still on the pitch for a thrashing.

Leandro Andrade - 4.5: Lasted only 45 minutes before being hooked at halftime. He was completely ineffective, losing possession 8 times in just 17 touches. Offered nothing going forward and was a passenger in the first half.

Pedro Bicalho - 4.5: A very tough night. He was dribbled past three times and had an error that led to a shot. He was overrun in midfield and while he made a few recoveries, he was mostly fighting a losing battle against a superior midfield unit. A game to forget.

Forwards

Camilo Durán - 5.0: Starved of service and isolated for most of the match. He lost six of his nine duels and looked physically outmatched. He created one chance but it's hard to be a striker when your team is being so thoroughly dominated. A thankless task.

Substitutes

Dani Bolt - 5.0: Came on for the injured Mustafazada and was thrown into the fire. Couldn't stem the tide.

Badavi Hüseynov - 5.5: Brought on at halftime and showed some fight, but the game was long gone.

Kady Borges - N/A: Came on late with little time to influence the game.

Emmanuel Addai - N/A: A late substitute.

Musa Qurbanli - N/A: A very late cameo.

Manager

Q. Qurbanov - 4.0: His team looked shell-shocked and unprepared for Newcastle's intensity. There appeared to be no Plan B once the early goals went in. They were tactically and technically outclassed across the entire pitch. A humbling and difficult experience for the Qarabağ manager.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's Man of the Match goes to Anthony Gordon.

Worst Performer

Matheus Silva was the worst performer.