Qarabag vs Newcastle live: Latest team news and line-ups from Champions League play-off

The mistake may be to see it through the lens of the continental superpowers. The Champions League’s knockout phase play-offs could perhaps do with a punchier name than Uefa’s unwieldy tag. For those who assume their destination is much deeper into the tournament, it can seem a punishment, an unwanted extra couple of fixtures jammed into February.

Yet for many of its participants, it is an opportunity. Under the previous format, some were unaccustomed to Champions League football after Christmas.

Eddie Howe also provided an update on Lewis Miley and is impressed by the progress he is making.

“Lewy’s doing alright. He’s made good progress in the last few days. We’re quite happy with his progress,” Howe revealed.

“He’s had a number of scans; it came from a knock, which seems quite strange, but just a really bad dead leg gave some muscle disruption.

“So as soon as that muscle is healed, which we think it is now, we can push him on quite quickly.”

Newcastle boss, Eddie Howe, provided an update on the midfielder who has been absent through injury.

Howe said: “Joelinton’s back in the squad so that’s a great boost for us. He’s such an important player, such a big presence within our squad, such a real leader.

“He trained yesterday and trained well, and felt really good, so we’re delighted with his return. No-one else from the missing list, I think, has travelled from the last game so we’re missing quite a few players, quite a few real quality players as well. They’re big misses for us, but we come here in good spirits from our last two games.

“We will play our strongest team in the sense that we will try and win the game. There’ll be no thinking of the schedule ahead; this game, in isolation, is hugely important.”

Tonight’s fixtures are the second bunch of play-off ties to be played in this round of the Champions League.

Here’s a list off all the ties:

Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund

Bayer Leverkusen vs Olympiacos

Atletico Madrid vs Club Brugge

Paris Saint-Germain vs Monaco

Inter Milan vs Bodo/Glimt

The Brazilian has been plagued by injury in recent times and hobbled off in the closing stages of Tuesday night’s win against Tottenham with a hamstring problem, curtailing what was just his second appearance since recovering from a separate ankle issue.

Newcastle skipper Bruno Guimaraes will be absent for eight weeks in a huge blow for Howe, with the Brazilian joining Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth on the treatment table. Sven Botman, Lewis Miley and Yoane Wissa will be evaluated but a return to the starting line-up is doubtful for any of the three.

Predicted Newcastle XI: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Ramsey, Tonali; Elanga, Willock, Gordon; Woltemade.

Qarabag remain without goalkeeper Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev due to a long-term injury, while Camilo Duran and Leandro Andrade will provide the firepower down the other end.

Predicted Qarabag XI: Kochalski; Silva, Mustafazada, Medina, Cafarquliyev; Bicalho, Jankovic; Andrade, Montiel, Zoubir; Duran.

Viewers in the UK can watch the game on TNT Sports 1 with coverage starting at 5pm. The match can also be streamed for subscribers on discovery+.

Qarabag’s clash with Newcastle kicks off at 5:45pm GMT on Wednesday 18 February at Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku.

Eddie Howe is coming under increased scrutiny for his side’s poor domestic form but will be hopeful Newcastle’s European adventure can continue beyond this round, with a favourable draw making them strong favourites to progress.

That said, the 2,500-mile-plus journey Newcastle have been required to take may just take its toll, giving Qarabag – who were thrashed 6-0 by Liverpool last time out – some hope of causing an upset.