Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice to complete a remarkable turnaround in Marseille - AFP/Christophe SimonLuke EdwardsTue, November 25, 2025 at 10:46 PM UTC·32 min readb'
'b'
'
A Nick Pope howler sparked a four-minute collapse as Newcastle United’s terrible away form continued with a self-inflicted defeat against Marseille.
Just as they did against West Ham and Brentford, Newcastle took the lead in the south of France and then threw it away. They were poor on the ball, failing to execute simple passes before allowing their scrambled minds to cause their downfall.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere had been mistakes in the first half and Newcastle got away with them, but none were as bad as the one made by their goalkeeper.
Leading 1-0 at half-time, having wasted a series of promising openings in attack with a bad pass or wrong decision, Newcastle needed to exert some control. Keep things tight and trust in their ability to create chances when they attack.
Within 30 seconds, Marseille were level, as Pope made the ridiculous decision to run out of his area to try and clear a ball he was never going to get to. It gave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a simple touch to go past him and then an empty goal to roll the ball into. The second came four minutes later from the same player, sliding in at the near post.
It was a case study in self-destruction and in keeping with so many others on the road this season. It is an itch manager Eddie Howe does not seem to be able to scratch.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNewcastle have won just once away from home this season, at Union SG, in the Champions League and are not going to change that unless they work out how to stop making basic errors.
Newcastle are a good side, they created enough chances not to lose against a dangerous Marseille team but were the architects of their own demise. They travel to Everton on Saturday and there will be little confidence that things will get better on their travels on Merseyside. These problems have existed for months.
Full report to follow...
10:33pm
Thanks for joining us
That brings our coverage of Newcastle’s defeat away at Marseille to an end. Thanks for joining us!
10:32pm
‘Key moments cost us’, says Burn
Dan Burn speaking to TNT Sports: “Frustrating, I thought we stuck to the game plan pretty well. 10/15 minutes of madness at the start of the second half has cost us.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Definitely disappointing to come to a team like this, stadium like this, atmosphere like this and put all that in and not come away with anything, disappointing.
“Mentally didn’t start the second half like we wanted to, Aubameyang; 36-year-old, still sharp and can still finish and showed his quality today.
“When you go 2-1 down and have to break them down away from home it’s tough.
“I think it was actually a pretty good performance but key moments cost us, I think we had chances we should have scored but didn’t capitalise on them, disappointed.”
10:30pm
‘Start of second half cost us’, says Howe
Eddie Howe speaking to TNT Sports: “I thought the effort was good. The start of the second half was a big one for us, and 15 minutes at the start of the second half cost us.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I thought we handled the atmosphere well in the first half, and even towards the end I felt there was chances for us to score.
“The goal straight away after half-time changes the feeling around the stadium, the game itself and it was just a lapse of concentration.
“We didn’t react well enough after that, conceded the second and from there it was difficult.”
10:21pm
Aubameyang: “I’m feeling great, even if I’m 36”
Speaking to TNT Sports, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang said: “I’m very happy to be here in this club, to enjoy those moments like tonight,it was a great game.
“We started a bit sloppy but then we reacted well and it was important to win tonight.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn how many more goals he will score: “Hopefully a lot, I’m feeling great even if I’m 36, I’m enjoying it.
“When you live these types of games, of course you want to play more and score more.”
On Marseille beating a Premier League team, he said: “I think it was very important especially at home, for the fans and for us, if we want to go through we need to win games, it was very important.”
10:15pm
WATCH: Aubameyang’s winner
10:13pm
All to play for for Marseille
Marseille have moved up to 19th in the league phase with their second Champions League win of the season.
They are one of four sides of six points and are now just three points off Newcastle and the automatic qualification spots.
10:11pm
Up next
Newcastle return to action on Saturday as they travel to take on Everton in the Premier League in the evening kick-off.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThree days later they will be back at St James’ Park, hosting Tottenham Hotspur.
10:10pm
Newcastle’s remaining league phase fixtures
10/12 - Bayer Leverkusen (A)
21/01 - PSV (H)
28/01 - Paris Saint-Germain (A)
10:07pm
Away woes go on
Newcastle extended their torrid run away from home, having lost their last four games on the road.
They have won just once in their eight games away from St James’ Park this season.
With two of their three remaining league phase games away from home, including a visit to European champions Paris Saint-Germain, Howe will be desperate to change this habit.
10:04pm
Newcastle drop to eighth
With defeat in France, Newcastle’s winning streak in Europe comes to an end and they have slipped to eighth in the league phase standings.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThey therefore remain in the automatic qualification spots, but there are six teams within touching distance who are still yet to play this week.
10:02pm
Tonight’s results
Ajax 0 Benfica 2
Galatasaray 0 Union SG 1
Bodo/Glimt 2 Juventus 3
Borussia Dortmund 4 Villarreal 0
Chelsea 3 Barcelona 0
Manchester City 0 Bayer Leverkusen 2
Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Napoli 2 Qarabag 0
Slavia Prague 0 Athletic 0
09:58pm
Full time: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Marseille have a chance to seal it but Vaz’s strike from the right of the box is tame and easy for Pope.
Newcastle win the foul on halfway and have one final chance to load the box but Pope’s delivery just doesn’t have the distance and Marseille can clear to secure the three points.
09:55pm
90+4 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Newcastle win the free-kick just inside the Marseille half and it’s headed on well by Thiaw, but Woltemade can’t quite reach it with his head to glance home from close range.
09:54pm
90+2 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Aubameyang has suffered a knock in these closing stages and he will have to make way, but he is given a round of applause from the Marseille supporters as he hobbles off. Vaz is on in his place.
09:52pm
90+1 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Newcastle are pressing and probing but they are struggling to carve out any clear-cut chances.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThey will have five more minutes to try and do so.
09:49pm
88 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Another change for Marseille now, involving two Englishmen and two former Manchester United players, with Greenwood making way for Gomes.
09:48pm
86 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Newcastle put together a really slick move to get from back to front but Hall’s final cross is a poor one.
The ball lands with Barnes but his curling effort whistles just wide of the far post.
09:46pm
84 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Ramsay goes on a powerful, driving run to the edge of the box and is tripped by Vermeeren, earning the free-kick in a really promising position.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTonali steps up but his curling effort sails way over the bar.
09:41pm
80 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Marseille cope with the corner but the ball comes back in and Thiaw nods it down to Burn, but the big defender can’t make a good contact with his volley from close range and it’s easy for Rulli.
09:40pm
78 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Newcastle break well, with Barnes driving and finding Woltemade, who spins smartly on the edge of the box and slides Elanga into the right of the area.
The winger shifts the ball onto his right foot but his effort deflects wide of the near post for a corner.
09:38pm
76 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Woltemade shows great control and awareness to collect the ball in the area and slide in Tonali on his outside, but the Italian’s shot is blocked.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMoments later and Tonali is brought down on the right, earning the free-kick in a great position for the visitors.
It’s a wicked delivery but it’s flicked away by Hojbjerg and the referee blows his whistle for a foul anyway.
09:36pm
74 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Aubameyang does sensationally to skip past Thiaw and into the right of the box but the defender does really well to recover and make a well-timed sliding challenge.
Burn heads the corner behind for another, and is there to head away the second one too.
09:34pm
72 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Howe is making another couple of changes now with Woltemade and Ramsey coming on for Gordon and Willock. Can the big German get his side back in it?
09:31pm
70 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Newcastle keep the move alive after Tonali’s free-kick is headed away but Thiaw’s effort is blocked and Marseille can break with pace once more.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGreenwood slides O’Riley into the right of the area but his cross is blocked and goes behind for a corner. Balerdi risest highest at the back post but directs his header wide of the upright.
09:29pm
67 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Barnes collects the ball on the left and drives well towards the edge of the box but is brought down by Greenwood, who goes into the book.
Before the free-kick can be taken, Hojbjerg is down and needing treatment.
09:27pm
65 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
A couple of Marseille corners cause problems for Newcastle but eventually a back-heel is collected by Pope.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAubameyang collects the ball on the edge of the area and shifts the ball onto his right foot. He takes aim with a curling effort, which takes a huge deflection but there is enough pace taken off it for Pope to adjust and gather.
Burn goes into the book for a high challenge on Hojbjerg.
09:24pm
62 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Eddie Howe is making a couple of changes with Elanga, Miley and Hall replacing Murphy, Schar and Livramento. Gordon has been given a note, suggesting a change in system.
Weah breaks down Marseille’s right once more and pulls the ball back to Greenwood on the edge of the area but his sweeping effort is delfected wide by Thiaw.
09:22pm
60 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Guimaraes plays a really clever pass into Willock in the right of the box and he turns sharply before unleashing a powerful effort on goal but Rulli turns it behind for a corner.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe set piece finds the head of Schar but he doesn’t get enough contact his effort and it glances well wide.
09:18pm
56 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Emerson picks up a yellow for a really rash challenge on Willock and that’s the third Marseille player into the book now.
Moments later and Marseille break with numbers once more and Greenwood is slipped into the left of the box but his driven effort is saved by Pope.
09:15pm
53 mins: Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1
Marseille have a great chance for a third as they pinch it high up but Hojbjerg can’t make up his mind as he gets into the area and eventually he is forced backwards.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe ball does come into the box moments later, finding the Spurs midfielder once more, but his effort from 12 yards is straight at Pope.
Newcastle need to hang in here.
09:13pm
GOAL! Aubameyang turns game around with quickfire double
Marseille 2 Newcastle United 1 (Aubameyang) It’s a disaster for Newcastle but it’s brilliant once again from Aubameyang.
Weah nips past Livramento down Marseille’s right before delivering a teasing cross towards the near post and Aubameyang gets across his man to poke home at the near post.
The visitors are stunned.
09:11pm
49 mins: Marseille 1 Newcastle United 1
Newcastle think they have the instant equaliser as Willock is found in the right of the box and his low ball across the face of goal is tapped home by Barnes.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut the flag goes up correctly, denying the winger a second brace in four days.
09:09pm
GOAL! Aubameyang scores 19 seconds into second half
Marseille 1 Newcastle United 1 (Aubameyang) It’s the worst possible start to the half for Newcastle.
Bakola plays a ball into the right channel for Aubameyang to run onto and Pope comes rushing way out of his goal.
The striker gets there first, nips it round the Englishman and finishes really well from a tight angle and a still a fair way out.
09:06pm
45 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
We are back underway in Marseille and it’s Newcastle kicking the second half off, going from right to left.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCan Eddie Howe’s men make it four wins on the spin in Europe?
09:01pm
As it stands
Newcastle are currently up to fourth in the league phase standings, level on points with the three teams above them.
But only halfway through their visit to Marseille and with half of the teams in action tomorrow, there is a long way to go in this set of fixtures.
08:59pm
Tonight’s scores
Ajax 0 Benfica 2 (FT)
Galatasaray 0 Union SG 1 (FT)
Bodo/Glimt 1 Juventus 0
Borussia Dortmund 1Villarreal 0
Chelsea 1 Barcelona 0
Manchester City 0 Bayer Leverkusen 1
Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
Napoli 0 Qarabag 0
Slavia Prague 0 Athletic 0
08:57pm
First-half numbers
Marseille have enjoyed a whopping 74% of possession in that opening period but the two sides have carried a similar threat going forward:
xG: Marseille 0.7 Newcastle 0.65
Shots: Marseille 8 Newcastle 9
Shots on target: Marseille 2 Newcastle 5
08:51pm
Half-time: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
Newcastle have a great chance late on as Willock breaks down the right but his low ball into the area is just out of reach of Gordon, who then recovers the ball but has his curling effort blocked.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe half-time whistle then blows after a thoroughly entertaining opening period and it’s the visitors with the one-goal advantage at the break.
08:48pm
45+1 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
Rulli is okay to carry on, with a big bit of bandaging round his head.
There will be three minutes added on at the end of this first half.
08:47pm
45 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
With Newcastle lining up the long throw, Rulli adopts a really brave position, well out his goal and in the middle of the crowd of players in the box.
As the throw comes in, he flops to the floor after the slightest bit of contact from Burn and wins the free-kick. Replays show that Burn accidentally stood on the Rulli after he had gone down and the keeper will need to be bandaged up here.
08:44pm
43 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
Gordon is the latest player to go into the book for tugging Vermeeren back in midfield.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMoments later and the England man is slid into the right of the area but his low effort, aimed for the bottom left corner, is kept out by a strong hand from Rulli.
08:43pm
42 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
Tonali has his pocket picked with Newcastle looking to play out from the back and Aubameyang collects the ball on the edge of the area.
He chops onto his right foot but Thiaw recovers with a superb sliding challenge and from the ground, the striker can only scoop an effort wide.
There were calls for a penalty but it looks like the Newcastle defender got the slightest touch on the ball.
08:40pm
40 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
b'
'
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNewcastle have had the openings to make it 2-0 but were let down by their final pass and game awareness.
Bruno overhit a pretty regulation through ball, for a player of his quality, when he should have sent Barnes in on goal, Tonali has shot weakly at the goalkeeper when he had a simple pass on for the better placed Gordon.
Willock has failed to knock the ball past the already booked Balerdi when he was the last defender. He had loads of grass to run into and just stopped waiting for support runners. Murphy has also butchered a potential two on one with Balerdi when he failed to make a routine five yard pass.
08:40pm
38 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
Greenwood cuts inside from the right and delivers a dangerous inswinging cross into the box but Aubameyang’s header, aimed towards the bottom right corner, goes just wide of the post.
08:38pm
37 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
A headed clearance drops to Paixao on the edge of the area but his curling effort, aimed at the far corner, bends just wide of the post.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMoments later and Bakola picks the ball up in the right of the area and cuts inside Schar before going down, appealing for the penalty.
But the referee gives the yellow for simulation and it is the correct call. It was an awful dive and a strange one too, with a shot at goal from close range there for him had he stayed on his feet.
08:36pm
35 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
Livramento gives it away in a dangerous area and Greenwood shows quick feet to create the room for a shot but his effort is blocked.
Newcastle have the chance to counter but Murphy’s ball for Gordon on halfway is sloppy and Marseille break the other way. This game has become incredibly open in the last five or 10 minutes.
08:33pm
32 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
Willock is slid into the right of the area but his low driven effort is saved by Rulli.
Marseille then counter with pace but Paixao’s final ball, sliding Greenwood into the right of the area, is lacking pace and Schar can get across to block the winger’s cross.
08:32pm
30 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
Willock pinches the ball and is able to spring a counter-attack but Guimaraes’ final ball for Barnes is just too close to Rulli in goal for Marseille.
Moments later and the Brazilian sweeps a clever ball in behind for Willock but this also runs through to Rulli.
08:29pm
28 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
It looks like Tonali will be okay to continue, much to the relief of his manager.
With the change in system, the midfielder has been making more forward runs than usual, and he has been getting a lot of joy in that right channel.
08:27pm
24 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
Tonali’s low cross into the box is cut out but he is the first to latch onto the loose ball in the right of the area.
He shifts the ball onto his left foot but his low strike is tame and straight at Rulli.
Moments later and the Italian goes down and will require treatment, which will be a concern for Howe.
08:23pm
21 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
Willock becomes the first Newcastle player to go into the book for an elbow to the face of Bakola as the Marsielle midfielder played a give-and-go around him.
Emerson’s resulting free-kick is glanced away but Hojbjerg gathers the loose ball at the back post and wins the corner down Marseille’s right.
08:20pm
19 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
Greenwood slides a clever ball into the right of the area for Aubameyang to run onto but his first-time effort from a tight angle is saved by Pope.
Moments later and Greenwood finds Aubameyang once more, this time with a lofted ball, and the striker chests it down in the area before letting fly with a half-volley, but Pope parries it away for a corner.
08:16pm
15 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
The hosts enjoy a sustained spell of pressure and produce a threatening cross from the right that nearly reaches Aubameyang, but Newcastle deal with it and eventually an offside flag gives them a chance to progress up the pitch.
08:14pm
13 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
It was a great start by Newcastle but Marseille are just growing into the game now and have the visitors penned in for the moment.
But Howe’s men look pretty solid with their back five and a bank of four just in front.
08:11pm
10 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
b'
'
Anthony Gordon had to score. A brilliant header back across goal from Malick Thiaw and Gordon is in the perfect position to nod the ball home but doesn’t get off the ground, which allows Hojbjerg to clear it off the line.
But within seconds, Newcastle’s number 10 has an assist. I’m not sure if he meant to pass the ball to Harvey Barnes or missed a shot from Sandro Tonali’s cross, but it does not really matter.
Newcastle have started really well and Marseille seem a bit stunned.
08:10pm
9 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1
Paixao breaks free down Marseille’s left and earns his side a corner as his cross is blocked. It’s taken short but Newcastle can clear when it does eventually come into the area.
08:08pm
GOAL! Barnes gives Newcastle lead with fourth goal in three games
Marseille 0 Newcastle United 1 (Barnes) Newcastle have a thoroughly deserved lead and it’s Barnes among the goals once more!
Tonali is slid into the right of the area and his pull-back deflects off Gordon and through to Barnes, who tucks home into the bottom right corner.
There are calls for offside but the goal stands!
08:06pm
5 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 0
There is an early booking for Marseille captain Balerdi for chopping down Willock on Newcastle’s right flank.
Tonali swings in the free-kick towards the back stick and Thiaw rises highest, but his looping header is cleared off the line by Hojbjerg.
Gordon could have maybe got his head to it before the former Spurs midfielder had he gambled. Nevertheless, it’s been an excellent start from the visitors.
08:04pm
3 mins: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 0
It’s looking like it might be a back five from Newcastle, with Livramento at left wing-back and Murphy dropping in as a right-wing back, with Barnes and Gordon as a front two.
Newcastle’s first attack ends in a corner as Barnes’ cross, searching for Gordon, is blocked. The delivery is sent deep to Barnes, who nods it back inside to Guimaraes, but his effort is blocked.
08:01pm
1 min: Marseille 0 Newcastle United 0
We are underway in Marseille with the hosts kicking things off going from right to left in this opening period.
The atmosphere in the Velodrome is electric.
07:57pm
Kick-off approaching
The players have emerged from the tunnel at Stade Velodrome and we are just moments away from kick-off!
07:54pm
Barnes riding high
Excluding penalties, Harvey Barnes is Newcastle’s top scorer in all competitions this season with six goals.
The winger scored a valuable brace on the weekend in his side’s 2-1 win over Manchester City.
He has been rewarded with another start tonight, can he make it count?
07:51pm
‘We want to use Marseille’s hostility to our advantage’, says Howe
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking to TNT Sports about his team selection: “Lewis Hall in particular is a player we have to keep fit.
“Gordon coming into the team, that’s a different dynamic, and we have to protect Nick (Woltemade) as well. We hope Anthony does really well today.
“The togetherness and support we get from our fans tonight will be incredible. We want to use the hostility here to our benefit.”
07:49pm
Marseille’s campaign so far
Marseille have picked up just three points from their opening four games in Europe this season, leaving them in the elimination zone ahead of tonight’s action.
Roberto de Zerbi’s side thumped Ajax 4-0 in their second match, but started their Champions League campaign with a loss at Real Madrid and have since suffered defeats against Sporting and Atalanta.
The French side are faring better domestically, though, currently just two points adrift of Ligue 1 leaders PSG, with nine wins from their opening 13 fixtures in the competition this season, including a 5-1 thumping away at Nice on Friday.
07:45pm
Newcastle arrivals
07:42pm
Marseille vulnerable after going ahead
Marseille have dropped six points from winning positions in the Champions League this season, more than any other side.
They’re the only side to have lost multiple matches in which they scored the opening goal in the competition this term.
07:39pm
Impressive setting for tonight’s game
b'
'
This is my first trip to Marseille and the imposing Stade Velodrome. It is surely the only intimidating stadium in the world which also incorporates an indoor shopping centre.
I must say I’m impressed. The curves of the stands, the massing of Marseille fans in the bars, cafes and restaurants hours before kick off. It looks different and already sounds loud.
It will be added to my top five stadiums in Europe. Don’t ask me for the other four at this precise moment in time. I’ll need to give it more thought.
Newcastle fans have been waiting inside the stadium for almost four hours now, ordered to travel on the metro with a police escort that left the city centre at 4:30pm local time.
The Stade Velodrome ahead of kick-off - Reuters/Manon Cruz07:37pm
Familiar faces in Marseille side
There are a number of familiar faces in the Marseille team tonight, with former Premier League players Emerson, Hojbjerg, Aubameyang and Greenwood all starting, while England international Gomes is on the bench.
07:31pm
Elanga and Ramsey struggling for starts
b'
'
Who am I to question Eddie Howe given his managerial record, but I do have some queries about this evening’s team to face Marseille.
Howe made a big thing in the build up talking about rotation and how he has the squad to cope with the extra games that European football brings - as long as he makes changes.
Well, he has made three tonight, Dan Burn replacing Lewis Hall, Joe Willock replacing Joelinton in midfield and Anthony Gordon stepping into Nick Woltemade’s shoes as a makeshift centre forward.
All of these decisions make sense. Hall started his first league game since February last weekend and cramped up around the hour mark. He is too important to risk. Joelinton has had his injury niggles this season and that also seems a good decision to rest the Brazilian. Nick Woltemade needs to be rotated at some point and Gordon needs a game.
My issue is that both Anthony Elanga (£55m) and Jacob Ramsey (£40m) were signed in the summer to improve the squad and they still cannot get a game.
We are almost into December and two players, Jacob Murphy (signed by Rafa Benitez) and Joe Willock (signed by Steve Bruce) are being picked ahead of them for a big European game like this.
You do not, in Newcastle’s financial situation, spend almost £100m on two players and not believe they are going to start games regularly.
Howe notoriously likes to ease new players into the team but after almost four months it is not great that neither Ramsey or Elanga can be trusted to start in the south of France.
07:29pm
Newcastle’s campaign so far
Newcastle started their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 defeat at home to Barcelona, with Marcus Rashford bagging a brace at St James’ Park.
But they have followed it up with three successive victories against Union Saint-Gilloise, Benfica and Athletic Club, scoring nine goals across those games and keeping three clean sheets.
Can they make it four in a row tonight?
07:26pm
An entertaining managerial match-up
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has faced Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi on three previous occasions and there has been one victory for each so far.
There were 11 goals across the three meetings, averaging 3.7 per game.
07:21pm
Howe searching for ‘consistency’
Newcastle have been formidable at home this season, winning their last six matches at St James’ Park, but they have struggling on the road, winning just once in seven matches away from home.
On the inconsistencies of Newcastle’s performances this season, manager Eddie Howe said: “I agree, we have played well in one-off games both home and away. We are looking for that consistency in performance, for that feeling you have when you know you’re going to perform.
“This is probably the first time since I’ve been here where there’s that element where we’re hoping we perform and we bring everything together.”
He continued: “From past experience this season there’s no guarantee [of performance] - now we need to build our confidence to deliver that. These games, in part, will be the acid test for us.”
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe - Shutterstock/Adam Vaughan07:17pm
Tonight’s action
Ajax 0-1 Benfica (L)
Galatasaray 0-1 Union SG (L)
Bodo/Glimt vs Juventus
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal
Chelsea vs Barcelona
Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen
Marseille vs Newcastle United
Napoli vs Qarabag
Slavia Prague vs Athletic
07:13pm
Previous meetings
Newcastle’s only previous visit to Marseille ended in a 2-0 defeat as they were knocked out of the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup in 2004 following a goalless draw at St James’ Park.
07:10pm
Howe expecting similar atmosphere to St James’
Discussing Newcastle’s trip to Stade Velodrome, manager Eddie Howe said on Monday: “There are a lot of similarities between the atmosphere here and St James’ Park.
“We know the full force of the crowd, the energy and the lift that can give to the players. We’re potentially going to have that working against us in this game, but I think that should really make us prepare well.”
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe - Getty Images /Clement Mahoudeau07:06pm
Gordon’s contrasting form domestically and in Europe
Anthony Gordon’s last Premier League goal for Newcastle came in January, during a 3-0 win at home against Wolves.
But it has been a different story in Europe, with the winger netting four times so far in the Champions League this season.
Only Victor Osimhen, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland have scored more in the league phase this time around.
07:01pm
Alabi, 16, on the bench
Sam Alabi is on the bench for Newcastle this evening. The midfielder becomes the first 16-year-old to be named in one of their matchday squads.
Sam Alabi arrives in Marseille - Getty Images/Serena Taylor06:58pm
Those teams in full
Marseille: Rulli; Weah, Pavard, Balerdi, Emerson; Hojbjerg, Vermeeren, Bakola; Greenwood, Aubameyang, Paixao.
Subs: Kondogbia, Egan-Riley, Garcia, Mmadi, Nadir, O’Riley, De Lange, Vaz, Gomes, Van Neck.
Newcastle United: Pope; Livramento, Thiaw, Schar, Burn; Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock; J. Murphy, Gordon, Barnes.
Subs: Botman, Elanga, Miley, A. Murphy, Ramsdale, Ramsey, Joelinton, Woltemade, Alibi, Thompson, Hall.
06:55pm
De Zerbi makes three changes
There are three changes to the Marseille team that thumped Nice 5-1 on Friday as Roberto de Zerbi brings in Rulli, Hojbjerg and Bakola for De Lange, Kondogbia and Gomes.
06:52pm
Gordon given rare chance up front
Nick Woltemade starts on the bench for the first time since September, having started Newcastle’s last 11 games in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Anthony Gordon, who has been in good goalscoring form in Europe, appears to be the striker for this evening.
06:46pm
Howe makes three changes, Woltemade on the bench
Newcastle boss has made three changes to his team following their 2-1 victory over Manchester City on the weekend, with Gordon, Willock and Burn replacing Woltemade, Joelinton and Hall.
06:42pm
Newcastle injury news
Eddie Howe confirmed on Monday that Anthony Gordon, who has “done the work and is fully fit”, and Emil Krafth have travelled with the side to France, but Kieran Trippier remains out injured.
The Newcastle boss was going to talk to his medical staff to “come up with the right decisions” about whether to start Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, who made their first starts since returning from injury in the win over Manchester City on Saturday.
He said: “They’re so important for us, as you saw on Saturday, and their longer-term fitness is crucial for us. Especially with Kieran’s injury, we’re not quite sure how long he will be out and that leaves us short of options in the full-back position.”
06:36pm
Newcastle target fourth successive win in Europe
Good evening, and welcome to live coverage of Marseille vs Newcastle United from the Champions League, with Eddie Howe’s side looking for a fourth straight win in the competition.
After a defeat at home to Barcelona in the opening round of fixtures, Newcastle have registered successive victories over Union Saint-Gilloise, Benfica and Athletic Club, leaving them in sixth at the halfway mark of the league phase.
However, the emphatic triumph in Belgium, in which they put four past Union, remains their only victory away from home in seven attempts this season.
Howe’s side have been typically tough to beat at St James’ Park, with a 2-1 win over Manchester City on Saturday the latest example of this. But positive performances at home have often been followed by disappointing displays on the road, and the Newcastle boss has spoken this week of his desire for “consistency”.
With three of their four remaining league phase games away from home, including a visit to European champions Paris Saint-Germain, the Premier League outfit will need to improve on their travels to remain in the automatic qualification spots.
Their latest trip takes them to Stade Velodrome, to face a Marseille side with just three points from their opening four games in Europe this season, leaving them in the elimination zone ahead of tonight’s action.
Roberto de Zerbi’s side thumped Ajax in their second match, but started their Champions League campaign with a loss at Real Madrid and have since suffered defeats against Sporting and Atalanta.
The French side are faring better domestically, though, currently just two points adrift of Ligue 1 leaders PSG, with nine wins from their opening 13 fixtures in the competition this season, including a 5-1 thumping away at Nice on Friday.
Newcastle’s only previous visit to Marseille ended in a 2-0 defeat as they were knocked out of the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup in 2004 following a goalless draw at St James’ Park.
Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
AdvertisementAdvertisement