Newcastle scored twice in the first six minutes to cruise into the last 16 of the Champions League with a stonking 9-3 aggregate win over Qarabag.
United were 6-1 up after last week’s first-leg win and Sandro Tonali and Joelinton struck early on to raise the prospect of a record win.
But Newcastle understandably took their foot off the gas, before three goals in seven second-half minutes added some life to the night.
Camilo Durán cleverly beat Aaron Ramsdale at his near post, Sven Botman rocketed in a header from a corner and after Dan Burn handballed the visitors had a penalty.
Ramsdale made a fine save but Elvin Cafarquliyev followed up to make it 3-2 on the night.
That was the end of the scoring as Eddie Howe’s side progressed to the next round with ease.
Newcastle ensured the Premier League will have six representatives in the last 16, with Howe’s men joining Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham in the draw.
The Magpies will now face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the next round.
Just as they had done in Baku, where two goals inside the opening eight minutes laid the groundwork for a 6-1 rout, Newcastle were two up within six minutes on home turf.
Tonali got the ball rolling on five minutes, firing home after Burn’s shot was blocked and Will Osula’s header kept out. Seconds later it was two, Joelinton volley emphatically past the goalkeeper after Harvey Barnes’ cross picked him out.
Ramsdale denied Abdellah Zoubir what would have been a leveller on the night with a fine stop as the game opened up, but neither side could add further to the scoring. It mattered little. Newcastle are through, and the dream continues.
Who is in the last 16?
From the league phase:
- Arsenal
- Barcelona
- Bayern Munich
- Chelsea
- Liverpool
- Manchester City
- Sporting
- Tottenham
From the play-offs so far:
- Newcastle
- Atletico Madrid
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Bodø/Glimt
