Newcastle United secured their place in the Champions League last 16 with a 3-2 victory over Qarabag, completing a 9-3 aggregate win. Atletico Madrid also progressed, defeating Club Brugge 4-1 for a 7-4 aggregate triumph, while Bayer Leverkusen and Bodo/Glimt advanced through other ties. These results set the stage for Friday's draw, featuring six Premier League clubs.
Tuesday's UEFA Champions League knockout play-off second legs delivered decisive outcomes, with four teams booking their spots in the last 16. At St James' Park, Newcastle, already leading 6-1 from the first leg, raced into a 2-0 lead within six minutes through Sandro Tonali and Joelinton. Qarabag responded in the second half with goals from Camilo Duran and Elvin Cafarguliyev after a penalty rebound, but Sven Botman restored the cushion, ending 3-2 on the night and 9-3 overall. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe noted, 'This was our target at the start of the season... The knockout stage will be a different challenge.' Tonali, earning player of the match honors, added, 'We have to do more because these fans deserve 100 per cent.'
In Madrid, Atletico Madrid overcame a tense 3-3 first-leg draw by beating Club Brugge 4-1. Alexander Sorloth's hat-trick, including a 23rd-minute opener and late strikes in the 76th and 87th minutes, sealed the 7-4 aggregate win after Johnny Cardoso's second-half volley put them ahead. Sorloth's clinical finishing propelled Atletico to face either Tottenham or Liverpool next.
Bayer Leverkusen drew 0-0 at home with Olympiacos to advance 2-0 on aggregate, thanks to Patrik Schick's first-leg brace. Meanwhile, Bodo/Glimt stunned Inter Milan 2-1 at San Siro for a 5-2 aggregate victory, with Jens Petter Hauge and Hakon Evjen scoring in the second half. Bodo/Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen called it 'an amazing, historical moment for Norwegian football.' These results confirm Newcastle's matchup against Chelsea or Barcelona, heightening anticipation for the February 27 draw in Nyon.
