Qarabag FK welcome Newcastle to the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in a Champions League knockout clash. The hosts will hope to use their strong home form, while Newcastle will aim to make a statement on the road.
| Tournament: | Champions League |
|---|---|
| Venue: | Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Baku |
| Date: | 18.02.2026 |
| Time: | 17:45 GMT |
Qarabag FK vs Newcastle Form and Head to Head
Qarabag FK secured a narrow 1-0 away victory against Imisli FK in their last domestic Premier League outing, capping a mixed run of three wins and three losses in their last six matches across all competitions. This period includes a heavy 6-0 Champions League defeat to Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Newcastle arrive in Baku buoyed by a convincing 3-1 away win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup. The Magpies' recent form has been challenging, registering two wins, one draw, and three losses in their last six matches. This tough run featured demanding Premier League encounters against Tottenham, Manchester City, and Liverpool, alongside a creditable 1-1 Champions League draw against PSG, demonstrating resilience despite a testing schedule.
This Champions League clash marks the very first competitive meeting between Qarabag FK and Newcastle. With no prior encounters to draw upon, both teams will be entering uncharted territory, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this European tie.
Who is the Betting Favourite in Qarabag FK vs Newcastle?
Newcastle are strong favourites to beat Qarabag FK at Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, with the latest odds implying roughly a 69% chance of an away win. Qarabag are priced as heavy home underdogs with just a 12% chance of an upset in this Champions League knockout tie.
| Match Result | Best Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Qarabag | 7/1 | BetMGM UK |
| Newcastle | 4/9 | Coral |
| Draw | 9/2 | Skybet |
Odds last updated at 4PM Wednesday, 18th February.
Betano Sportbook
Qarabag FK vs Newcastle Team News
Qarabag FK report no missing or suspended players from the provided data, allowing them to deploy their preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. As per manager Qurban Qurbanov, this setup is built around technical attacking midfielders supporting striker Durán, who has been central to their early-game momentum.
Newcastle, however, face a significant injury crisis heading into this fixture. The visitors will be without several key players, with Guimarães, Miley, Joelinton, Livramento, and Schär all sidelined. Guimarães' absence, in particular, removes the team’s leading line-breaking passer in Europe, shifting midfield progression responsibilities towards Tonali and Trippier. Eddie Howe's 4-3-3 system will rely heavily on wide production from players like Gordon and Barnes to mitigate these significant midfield gaps.
Qarabag FK vs Newcastle Confirmed Lineups
Qarabag FK (4-2-3-1): Kochalski; Silva, Mustafazada, Medina, Cafarquliyev; Jankovic, Bicalho; Andrade, Montiel, Zoubir; Durán
Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Pope; Trippier, Burn, Thiaw, Hall; Willock, Tonali; Elanga, Barnes, Gordon; Woltemade
Lineups preview by WhoScored.
Qarabag FK vs Newcastle Match Prediction
Even though both sides have been involved in plenty of high-scoring European games, this first leg could be more controlled than expected. Qarabag are usually strong at home, and Newcastle’s injury problems may force them into a more cautious, structured approach.
Qarabag will still look to play with their usual attacking rotations and quick forward passes, but Newcastle will try to slow the game down, dominate territory, and create one-on-one chances for their wide players. A hard-fought 1-1 draw feels like a realistic outcome, with both teams scoring and leaving everything to play for in the second leg.
Prediction: Qarabag FK 1-1 Newcastle
Qarabag FK vs Newcastle Stat Trends
Our EV Eagle has picked out five trending player stats for Qarabag FK vs Newcastle.
Find 100s more player stat trends in our Trends Tool, available to Oddschecker+ Premium subscribers.
Sven Botman has exceeded 0.5 Shots in 4 of their last 5 games.
Best odds of 27/25 at BetMGM UK while publishing.
Joelinton has exceeded 0.5 Shots On Target in 3 of their last 4 Away games.
Best odds of Evens at Paddy Power while publishing.
Harvey Barnes has exceeded 0.5 Fouls in 5 of their last 8 games.
Best odds of 3/4 at SpreadEx while publishing.
Camilo Durán has recorded 1+ shots on target in 4 of their last 4 apps in Champions League.
Best odds of 39/40 at Unibet while publishing.
There have been 4+ goals scored in 3 of Qarabag FK's last 3 matches in Champions League.
Best odds of 23/20 at 10bet while publishing.
Qarabag FK vs Newcastle Bet Builder Tip
Our Qarabag FK vs Newcastle Bet Builder Tip includes Over 10.5 Match Shots On Target, A. Gordon Over 0.5 Shots On Target, No in Both Teams To Score, and C. Duran Over 1.5 Shots.
Best odds of 12/1 at Skybet while publishing.
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