It ended Qarabag FK 1 Newcastle 6.
Before each match, we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives after the match.
An ‘interesting’ match in Azerbaijan.
Plenty to talk about after this Champions League match.
Newcastle United recorded their third away win in a row, in three different competitions.
On this occasion it is David Punton:
POSITIVE
Brilliance in Baku
Sheer brilliance from Newcastle United got the job done in Azerbaijan.
We were particularly sparkling in the first half.
The win, our third consecutive success on the road, sets us up for what will hopefully be a much less hectic second leg at St James’ Park.
Howe had his tactics perfect. He deserves credit.
You just can’t really complain about our progress in the league. Our string of wins in the group stage earned us the allegedly easier match in the play-off.
We are just one match away from a Champions League date with Barcelona or Chelsea.
Come on.
Record breakers
It was the biggest CL victory ever for the club. It is one that we will look back on fondly in the years to come.
Then we have Anthony Gordon.
I’ve been a bit critical of him, but you can’t ignore his performance in this match.
Gordon’s four-goal blitz puts him in an exclusive club of United players to score hat-tricks in the Champions League. He’s up there with a guy named Alan Shearer and Tino Asprilla.
Only Mbappé has scored more CL goals this season.
It’s excellent from the little Scouser as he seemed to excel as a striker.
It was his first hat-trick of his senior career and the fastest triple for an English player in the tournament.
He needs to play like this more in Premier League games, and it needs to happen quickly or risk not being on a plane for the World Cup.
Nine at ten
Nick Woltemade’s switch to a deeper role is paying off.
For a big man, he has an astonishing ability for such a role, playing behind the central striker. He hardly lost the ball.
It really paid off for us. It is an important weapon in our arsenal that must be exploited.
(Other positives: Joelinton is back; Sean Neave’s league debut; another great goal for Thiaw; finding ways to win without Bruno; a great effort for the fans who traveled so far to follow the team in Baku, with many on three different flights to get there; we can shift gears for the second leg; a first Champions League goal for Jacob Murphy.)
NEGATIVES
Handbags
It wasn’t ideal to see Trippier and Gordon arguing over a penalty.
The incident looked quite intense and it was a relief to see them all smiling full time on TNT Sport.
I think Gordon was right when he took the penalty. He is the dedicated penalty taker.
Pope wrong
A mistake from Nick Pope for their goal erased the writing a bit.
I wish he could iron out these mistakes.
Disciplinary cord
Dan Burn and Joelinton both remain one booking away from suspension, while Thiaw’s yellow means he will miss the second leg next week.
#positive #negative #points #Qarabag #Newcastle