Newcastle Set to Battle Qarabag in Champions League Play-offs

Newcastle United is gearing up to face Qarabag in a two-match playoff as they strive for a spot in the Champions League’s knockout stage.

The Magpies secured a draw against defending champions Paris St-Germain, finishing the league stage in 12th position with a score of 1-1.

In contrast, PSG ended up in 11th place and will compete against Monaco, while 15-time European titleholders Real Madrid are set to encounter their former coach Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.

In an exciting match, Benfica triumphed over the Spanish giants with a 4-2 victory, thanks to a last-minute goal from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.

The playoffs involve teams that completed the league phase ranked between 9th and 24th. The initial legs of the matchups are scheduled for February 17-18, with the return fixtures taking place the following week.

The final for the 2025-26 Champions League will be hosted at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, on May 30.

Qarabag concluded the league phase in 22nd place, managing three wins, one draw, and four losses. Their last encounter resulted in a heavy 6-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield, and they have struggled historically against Premier League teams, failing to secure a win in nine attempts.

However, they managed to avoid defeat for the first time against an English club in November, drawing 2-2 with Chelsea.

Complete Play-off Draw

• Bodo/Glimt vs Inter Milan
• Benfica vs Real Madrid
• Monaco vs Paris St-Germain
• Qarabag vs Newcastle
• Galatasaray vs Juventus
• Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
• Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
• Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen

Fans can catch highlights of every Champions League match Wednesday at 22:00 on the streaming platform and sports website. There will also be a dedicated Champions League Match of the Day airing on Wednesday from 22:40 to 00:00.