Newcastle will have to bypass Qarabag for a spot in the Champions League final 16, after Eddie Howe's side were drawn against the Azerbaijan team ahead of their play-off tie next month. Qarabag may feel a sense of trepidation facing off with Premier League opposition for the second European match in a row, after being thumped 6-0 by Liverpool in their final game of the league phase. In drawing Qarabag, Newcastle avoided a tie far closer to home against Monaco, who will instead face the Magpies' Wednesday night opponents Paris Saint-Germain in a bid to make the last 16. Should they succeed in their play-off match, the Tyneside club will face either Barcelona or Chelsea in their round-of-16 clash. Of the eight teams to have qualified automatically, five were from the Premier League, with Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Sporting Lisbon rounding out the pack.

Source: Daily Mail January 30, 2026 15:55 UTC