Ahead of the UEFA Champions League play-off match between Qarabag and Newcastle, veteran footballer Samir Aliyev shared his thoughts on the upcoming encounter.

In a statement to Offsideplus.az, he said:

"By reaching the Champions League play-offs this year, Qarabag has achieved a historic first and significantly bolstered its budget. Regarding the match against Newcastle, I can say that they are one of England's established clubs with very rich traditions. Although they haven't achieved their desired results in the Premier League, their performance in the Champions League can be considered successful. This match will be difficult for both Qarabag and Newcastle. Of course, Qarabag has already secured a major success by making history, and now they have a good chance to advance to the Round of 16, as the tie consists of two legs. In my opinion, fans can expect an interesting and intense struggle. Let's hope Qarabag achieves a favorable result from these matches and moves on to the next stage. That is the wish of us all."

It should be noted that the first leg between Qarabag and Newcastle will take place on February 18 at 21:45 at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium.