Key facts
- Newcastle have lost after scoring the opening goal in the Champions League for the first time since 13th December 2023 against Milan (three games without defeat).
- Having equalized in the 46th minute and scored their second in the 50th minute, Marseille scored twice in the opening five minutes of either half in the Champions League game for the first time.
- Marseille’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (36yrs 160d) became the oldest African player to score multiple goals in a Champions League game and the fourth oldest overall, after Cristiano Ronaldo (36yrs 270d), Robert Lewandowski (36yrs 231d) and Edin Dzeko (36yrs 223d).
Highlights
Analysis
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was awarded Man of the Match for his two goals, but Gerónimo Rulli was given the highest Flashscore rating of the match for restricting Newcastle to just the one goal.
Match report
The Magpies were clearly intent on silencing the hostile Stade Vélodrome crowd, with Malick Thiaw seeing a looping fourth-minute header cleared off the line by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
Newcastle were ahead just two minutes later, and in-form Harvey Barnes was at it again. Sandro Tonali’s low cross from the right fell kindly for the winger, who fired home his fourth goal in three games.
Marseille pushed for an equaliser with Aubameyang at the heart of their efforts, but he was denied by Nick Pope after producing a sharp turn to work the space for a shot. Igor Paixão curled just wide for the hosts, before Aubameyang missed two great opportunities late in an entertaining half. First, the striker headed wide from close range, before flashing his next chance wide as he tussled with Thiaw.
Newcastle were one of just four teams pre-round yet to concede a first-half UCL goal this term, and though they continued that record here, their clean sheet was wiped out just 19 seconds after HT.
Pope raced out to meet a through ball but Aubameyang got there first, before brilliantly curling inside the post from wide on the right. Within four minutes, the striker had completed the turnaround. Timothy Weah crossed from the right and Aubameyang stole in front of his marker to poke home. It was his eighth goal in 10 H2Hs, and his sixth goal contribution in five UCL games this term.
Newcastle were far from out of it, and Joe Willock forced Gerónimo Rulli to tip over just before the hour mark. The visitors were aiming to avoid a fourth successive away defeat across all competitions, and though Barnes curled wide of the far post four minutes from time, Aubameyang’s double proved decisive.
It earned Marseille only their second win in five UCL games this term, while Newcastle remain on nine points, but are still well placed to qualify for the knockout stages.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marseille)
Click here to see all the stats of the match.
Post-match comments
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe told TNT Sports: "The effort was good. The 15 minutes at the start of the second half cost us.
"The goal straight after half-time changes the feeling around the stadium. It was a lapse of concentration from us."
Speaking to TNT Sports, Marseille goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang said: "I'm very happy to be here at this club to enjoy moments like tonight. It was a great game. We started a bit sloppily, but we reacted well.
"I'm feeling great, even if I'm 36. When you play these types of games, you want to play more and score more.
"It was very important, especially at home and for the fans. If we want to go through, then we have to win games."