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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rejoined Marseille on a free transfer last summer following a spell at Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah At a glance Harvey Barnes opens the scoring for Newcastle with clinical effort Marseille forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalises from tight angle Aubameyang puts his side in front with first-time finish to turn the game on its head PLAYER RATINGS Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rolled back the years as the veteran Marseille forward scored a quickfire double to stun Newcastle United in the Champions League. The English side's struggles away from home continued as their hosts came from behind thanks to two goals from the 36-year-old former Arsenal and Chelsea frontman at a febrile Stade Velodrome. The in-form Harvey Barnes gave Newcastle the dream start after opening the scoring with a clinical sixth-minute finish from inside the box. That followed a brilliant headed clearance off the line from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to deny Magpies defender Malick Thiaw. But the visitors - who have won just once on their travels this season - dropped off and allowed Marseille to dominate possession and create a number of opportunities for Aubameyang. Although he spurned a series of openings in the first half, the Gabon international looked more like his old self after the break. The second half had only just got under way when 17-year-old Darryl Bakola played a through-ball into the right-hand channel behind Newcastle's defence. Nick Pope, sensing Aubameyang was racing on to it, rushed off his line in an attempt to get there first, but the Newcastle goalkeeper was caught in no man's land as the forward finished superbly from a tight angle out on the right-hand side. Marseille made it two goals in four minutes when Timothy Weah darted past Tino Livramento down the right and picked out Aubameyang, who got ahead of Fabian Schar to hook the ball home at the near post. The goal sent the French side's manager Roberto de Zerbi dancing down the touchline in delight. And the former Brighton boss was punching the air at full-time as Marseille claimed their second Champions League win of the season to move up to 19th place in the standings, while Newcastle are eighth. Newcastle left bruised by '10 minutes of madness' It has become a familiar theme. As good as Newcastle have been at home, they continue to struggle on the road - even when ahead. Howe's side have taken the lead in each of their last three away games, against Marseille, Brentford and West Ham, only to lose all three. And this defeat will certainly sting - just days after an impressive Premier League win against Manchester City at St James' Park. But Newcastle only had themselves to blame. The visitors did not press home their advantage, and will have been relieved to still be ahead at half-time after Marseille spurned a number of early openings. But it was Marseille who looked like they had a jolt at the break - not least Aubameyang. Boss Howe felt the frontman looked "as good as ever" before this game, and those words proved rather prophetic. But how Newcastle will rue their sloppy kick-off, even before Pope's rush of blood to the head, after the visitors gave the ball away and failed to win a number of duels in Marseille's half. Anthony Gordon had his head in his heads following Aubameyang's equaliser, but Newcastle's evening went from bad to worse just a few minutes later when he put Marseille in front to leave Schar stunned on the turf. Howe turned to his bench - calling on Lewis Hall, Lewis Miley, Anthony Elanga and record signing Nick Woltemade - but his side never truly looked like equalising. Remarkably, this team has won only once - 4-0 at Union St Gilloise in the Champions League - on their travels in all competitions in the last seven months. Marseille host Toulouse at the Stade Velodrome in Ligue 1 on Saturday, 29 November (20: 05 GMT), and visit Union St Gilloise in the Champions League on Tuesday, 9 December (20: 00 GMT). Newcastle travel to Everton in the Premier League on Saturday, 29 November (17: 30 GMT), and travel to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday, 10 December (20: 00 GMT). After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 25th November 2025 at 22: 37 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Roberto De Zerbi Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Eddie Howe Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 Manager: Roberto De Zerbi Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Eddie Howe Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 UEFA Champions League All competitions All competitions All competitions Marseille and Newcastle’s only previous meetings in Europe came in the 2003-04 campaign, with the French side going unbeaten home (2-0) and away (0-0) versus the Magpies in the UEFA Cup semi-finals (finished as runners-up that season). This will be the ninth time that Newcastle have faced a French side away from home in European competition, with their only victory from the previous eight (D3 L4) coming at Sochaux in the UEFA Cup in November 2004 (4-0). Marseille are winless in their last 12 games against English sides in Europe (D3 L9), with their last such victory coming against Chelsea back in December 2010 (1-0 in the UEFA Champions League). The French side have scored just five goals across those 12 matches. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has faced Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi on three previous occasions across all competitions, with both managers recording one victory each (D1). 11 goals were scored across the three meetings (6 for Newcastle, 5 for Brighton), at an average of 3. 7 per game. Newcastle will be looking to win four consecutive matches for the first time in the UEFA Champions League (currently on a three-game winning streak), while they are already on their longest run of consecutive clean sheets in the competition (3). Marseille have dropped six points from winning positions in the UEFA 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 current tournament (2 – both 2-1 defeats against Real Madrid and Sporting CP). Newcastle have scored 10 goals in four UEFA Champions League matches this term, already four more than in their previous appearance in the competition under Eddie Howe (6 in 6 games in 2023-24). The Magpies are one of only five sides with a shot conversion rate of 20% or higher this season (20% - 10 goals from 50 shots). Anthony Gordon has been directly involved in five goals in four UEFA Champions League games this season (4 goals, 1 assist), with only Victor Osimhen (6) having more combined in the current edition. The only Newcastle player with more goal involvements in a single Champions League campaign is Alan Shearer, who had seven in the 2002-03 season (6 goals, 1 assist). Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Igor Paixão have combined for three goals in the UEFA Champions League this season (two assists by Aubameyang, one by Paixão); the most between any duo in the current edition so far. Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães has made the joint-most passes breaking the oppositon’s defensive line in the UEFA Champions League this season (9 – level with Joshua Kimmich), while Atlético Madrid (35) are the only team with more defensive line-breaking passes than the Magpies (32) in the competition overall this term. Match ends, Marseille 2, Newcastle United 1. Second Half ends, Marseille 2, Newcastle United 1. Foul by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Marseille). Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the right wing. Attempt saved. Robinio Vaz (Marseille) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Nick Pope (Newcastle United). Assisted by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. Foul by Arthur Vermeeren (Marseille). Jacob Ramsey (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Substitution, Marseille. Robinio Vaz replaces Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. Substitution, Marseille. Angel Gomes replaces Mason Greenwood. Attempt missed. Harvey Barnes (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Attempt missed. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick. Arthur Vermeeren (Marseille) is shown the yellow card. Foul by Arthur Vermeeren (Marseille). Jacob Ramsey (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Arthur Vermeeren (Marseille). Harvey Barnes (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Emerson (Marseille) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United). Attempt saved. Dan Burn (Newcastle United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Gerónimo Rulli (Marseille). Assisted by Malick Thiaw with a headed pass. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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