Newcastle United cruised into the last 16 of the Champions League following another victory against Qarabag.

Eddie Howe's side already had one foot in the next round after a 6-1 rout in Azerbaijan last week.

Howe gave some key figures a breather for the second leg at St James' Park, as a result, but the Newcastle head coach wanted to ensure his players "didn't lose rhythm and the good feeling we had".

Much-changed Newcastle duly picked up from where they left off in Baku, after again racing into a two-goal lead, but this was a night where spirited Qarabag gave a much better account of themselves thereafter.

Sandro Tonali opened the scoring for Newcastle in the fourth minute after Qarabag goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski could only parry William Osula's header into the path of the Italian, who could hardly miss to net his first ever goal in the competition.

Newcastle scored another just a couple of minutes later when Harvey Barnes drilled the ball across goal and the unmarked Joelinton fired home expertly on the volley.

Qarabag could have gone under, as they did after going behind so early in the first leg, but the visitors rallied to their credit.

The Azerbaijan Premier League champions pulled one back after half-time when Camilo Duran skipped away from Dan Burn and finished clinically past Aaron Ramsdale to give the travelling support a moment to remember following a mammoth 2,500-mile journey.

Newcastle defender Sven Botman quickly restored Newcastle's seven-goal aggregate lead when he headed home from Kieran Trippier's corner kick, but Qarabag responded once again.

Qarabag were awarded a penalty after Burn handled the ball inside the box and although Ramsdale kept out Marko Jankovic's spot-kick, Elvin Cafarguliyev was quickest to react to knock in the follow up.

Newcastle pushed for another, but the hosts ultimately had to be content with an emphatic 9-3 aggregate win as they set up a last 16 tie against either Barcelona or Chelsea.

The draw is set to be made on Friday (11:00 GMT).

A lot can change in two and a half weeks.

Howe was the first to admit he was not doing his job "well enough" after his side were defeated in their last game on home soil earlier this month.

Newcastle were booed off by a section of supporters following a bruising 3-2 loss against Brentford at St James' Park.

But this side have responded - and how - since then with four wins in five matches.

No wonder, then, the home support unfurled a tifo of Howe in the Leazes End before kick-off.

A buoyant Newcastle raced out of the blocks - but such are the standards Howe has set that he was not completely satisfied even after his side took such an early lead and urged them to win the ball back quicker.

You suspect Howe was not best pleased when Qarabag went on to pull one back. Nor was Trippier for that matter, who launched the ball back into the centre circle after his side were denied a clean sheet on the night.

But this was a dominant aggregate victory as Newcastle broke a club record by winning six Champions League games in a single campaign for the first time.

They have reached the last 16 for only the second time, previously getting to the second group stage in 2003.

A big test awaits in the next round, but supporters are daring to dream.

"Is this the way to Barcelona?" they repeatedly sang. "Bayern Munich? Lazio? Roma? Geordie boys are taking over – Champions League awaits for me!"

Gurban Gurbanov could not help but shake his head on the touchline.

The Qarabag manager had stressed the need to be "more careful and responsible" as he switched to a back five for the return fixture - only to see his side concede twice even more quickly than they did in the first leg.

Qarabag were soon subjected to a few 'olés' from the home support as they regained their composure with a rare period of possession.

But the visitors went on to show admirable powers of recovery.

In fact, Newcastle supporters could not help but politely applaud after Duran scored the first of Qarabag's two goals in the second half.

Newcastle players showed their respect at full-time by exchanging handshakes and hugs with their Qarabag counterparts in the centre circle.

This has been an incredible journey for Gurbanov's side.

They reached this stage for the first time after drawing against Chelsea and defeating Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt and Copenhagen in the league phase.

The focus now will be on clawing back Sabah's seven-point lead at the top of the Azerbaijan Premier League to ensure they have a chance of taking a seat at Europe's top table through the qualifiers once again next season.

Newcastle host Everton on Saturday, 28 February (15:00 GMT) before welcoming Manchester United to St James' Park on Wednesday, 4 March (20:15).

Qarabag face Sabah on Sunday, 1 March (15:00) before another home game against Shamakhi on Wednesday, 4 March (15:00).

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.