Newcastle United Faces Setback Against Marseille in Champions League
Newcastle United supporters may have thought their struggles were behind them.
For years, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had been a persistent challenge during his time at Arsenal from 2018 to 2022.
However, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe had cautioned that the 36-year-old "looked as good as ever" ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League match in Marseille.
True to Howe's warning, Aubameyang once again proved to be a menace for Newcastle, scoring a quick double that turned the match around at the Stade Velodrome, leading the French side to a 2-1 comeback victory.
This defeat was a familiar narrative for Howe's team, who have struggled in away fixtures. Like their recent matches against Brentford and West Ham, they initially took the lead but ultimately squandered it.
Defender Dan Burn described the situation as "10 minutes of madness," while Howe sought solace in "positive signs" despite the painful loss.
"It leaves us a little bit bruised right now, but we will come back," said the frustrated manager. "We have some significant matches ahead. This competition was never going to be straightforward for us. It’s the elite competition it is because it will challenge and stretch us, ultimately making us a better team through these experiences."
Defensive Vulnerabilities on the Road Prove Costly Again
Yet, the match could have taken a different turn after Newcastle initially managed the intense atmosphere effectively, gaining the upper hand.
The noise levels were deafening before kickoff, with referee Maurizio Mariani and officials met with loud whistles as they emerged for warm-ups. Flares lit up the stands, ticker tape danced in the air, and an impressive tifo displayed a banner reading "For my town, for my club."
Newcastle, however, were well-prepared. They arrived early, trained at the Velodrome on Monday evening, and sought to keep the players mentally engaged on match day, as Howe described.
This preparation seemed to pay off against a team currently second in Ligue 1. Instead of being intimidated by the crowd, Newcastle made an aggressive start, earning their reward when Harvey Barnes, fresh off his match-winning performance against Manchester City, scored in the sixth minute.
However, Newcastle failed to capitalize on their lead, allowing Marseille to regroup. The visitors received multiple warnings after Aubameyang missed several opportunities in the first half.
After the break, Aubameyang was less forgiving, taking advantage of a sloppy kickoff from Newcastle. Defender Fabian Schar cleared the ball forward, but Newcastle lost control after a series of duels deep in the opposition half.
Timothy Weah made a decisive pass to Darryl Bakola, who played a through-ball into the right channel behind Newcastle's defense. Although an equalizer was not a certainty given Aubameyang's distance from goal, goalkeeper Nick Pope rushed off his line in an attempt to intercept, only to find himself caught in no man's land as Aubameyang finished expertly from a tight angle on the right wing.
Howe expressed his support for Pope after the match, despite the goalkeeper's poor decision, highlighting his impressive saves against Manchester City just three days prior. Nonetheless, the night revealed Newcastle's ongoing vulnerabilities at the back and on the road.
‘We’re Ready to Fight Back’
Newcastle's defense for Marseille's decisive second goal just four minutes later was equally disappointing. Weah outpaced Tino Livramento on the right and found Aubameyang, who deftly finished at the near post, getting ahead of his marker Schar.
Despite having ample time to equalize, Newcastle never truly threatened to do so. "Ten, 15 minutes of madness at the start of the second half has cost us," Burn told TNT Sports. "It’s definitely disappointing to come to a team like this, in a stadium like this, with such an atmosphere, and not come away with anything."
This has become a recurring theme for Newcastle. While they have won their last six matches at St James' Park across all competitions, they have only secured one victory in their last seven away games, a 4-0 win at Union St Gilloise on October 1—one of three Champions League victories that currently place them eighth in the standings.
They will need to regroup quickly for another challenging away match against Everton on Saturday if they hope to climb from their current position of 14th in the Premier League.
"This is a tough one to take," Howe concluded. "But the lads are resilient, they’re experienced, and we’re ready to fight back."