Gordon has a new English record in a 6-1 demolition of Qarabag

“I think, in the Premier League, it’s become more physical than I’ve ever known it to be. It’s like a basketball game sometimes; it’s so relentless physically. The Champions League is a bit more of an older style of game; it’s a bit more football-based. Teams come and try to play proper football“ said Anthony Gordon just three weeks ago. The reason for this question was a sharp difference in the player‘s performance in England and Europe. Much criticized, the England winger scored only three goals in 20 appearances and it took him over a year to score goal from open play. Too long for such a an expensive player. But in the Champions League he was much better and tonight he proved it again: Qarabag – Newcastle 1-6.

Former Everton winger scored four goals in the first time and the Magpies scored five in the first 45 minutes (only the second team in history after Bayern Munich) in the first leg of the Champions League playoff phase. After such a results, Gordon‘s statistic are 12 goals in 11 matches in Europe! Gordon‘s strength has always been pace, not the dribbles and not even finishing (from open play). And against Qarabag who couldn‘t cover the space like experienced Premier League teams, it was destined for Gordon to shine and break some records. He scored the club’s quickest ever Champions League goal, getting off the mark 122 seconds in. His hat-trick was the fastest by an English player in the competition in history from the start of matches, breaking another record (36 minutes) held by Shearer.

Another Gordon‘s strength is also penalty taking. He scored two tonight and also missed two more sitters. Newcastle ran riot in Azerbaijan in the first half an hour, scored four goals and missed two excellent chances. The hosts were totally lost and looked unprepared. One of Newcastle‘s great strengths is a relentless pressing game, which starts from the front line, and the Magpies used it a number of times, forcing experienced Qarabaq defenders to make mistakes and lose ball in front of their goal. Ahead of this game, the Magpies became a team which made the longest-ever journey travelled by an English club for a Champions League away match - 2,529-mile journey to Qarabag. They also had a number of injuries ahead of this match, as manager Eddie Howe was without Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes, Emil Krafth, Tino Livramento, Lewis Miley, Fabian Schar and Yoane Wissa. But the players on the field used every possible chance given to them by the hosts and all but secured their advance to the Round of 16 – also a historic result for the club. Qarabaq was among those clubs who surprised quite a few people with their performance in the league stage and their playoff qualification were also a big surprise, but they couldn‘t do anything against Newcastle and are happy that the match ended with only six goals in their net.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - PLAYOFFS

First leg

Tuesday

Galatasaray - Juventus 5-2 (1-2)

/Sara 15, Lang 49, 75, Sanchez 60, Boey 86 - Koopmeiners 16, 32/

Benfica - Real Madrid 0-1 (0-0)

/Vinicius 50/

Dortmund - Atalanta 2-0 (2-0)

/Guirassy 3, Beier 42/

Monaco - PSG 2-3 (2-2)

/Balogun 1, 18 - Doue 29, 67, Hakimi 41/

Wednesday

Qarabag - Newcastle 1-6 (0-5)

/Jafarguliyev 54 - Gordon 3, 32(p), 33, 45+1(p), Thiaw 8, Murphy 72/

23.00: (5.00) Bodo (3.90) Inter (1.68)

23.00: (3.85) Club Brugge (3.90) Atl.Madrid (1.95)

23.00: (2.50) Olympiakos (3.35) Leverkusen (2.85)

***odds are subject to change***