Aubameyang Double Sinks Newcastle as Marseille Roar Back in Champions League
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang turned back the clock with a devastating second-half brace as Marseille came from behind to defeat Newcastle United 2–1 in the Champions League.
Newcastle’s away woes continued at a fiery Stade Vélodrome, despite taking an early lead through the in-form Harvey Barnes, who clinically finished inside six minutes. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg had already made a superb headed clearance to deny Malick Thiaw, but after the opener, Newcastle faded and allowed Marseille to grow into the game — repeatedly creating chances for Aubameyang.
The 36-year-old striker was wasteful in the first half, but after the interval he looked revitalised.
Barely moments into the second half, 17-year-old Darryl Bakola slipped a clever pass behind Newcastle’s defence. Nick Pope rushed out in panic, but Aubameyang beat him to the ball and squeezed home a brilliant angled finish from the right.
Marseille struck again just four minutes later. Timothy Weah glided past Tino Livramento and cut the ball across the box, where Aubameyang darted ahead of Fabian Schär to hook in his second at the near post — sending manager Roberto De Zerbi sprinting and celebrating wildly on the touchline.
The win, Marseille’s second of the Champions League campaign, lifts them to 19th in the league-phase standings, while Newcastle drop to eighth.
Newcastle analysis: Another away lead thrown away
For Newcastle, it’s become an unwelcome pattern.
Despite strong home form, Eddie Howe’s men continue to crumble away from St James’ Park — even when they go ahead. Newcastle have now taken the lead in their last three away matches (Marseille, Brentford and West Ham) and lost all of them.
Just days after an impressive win over Manchester City, Newcastle undid their own good work. They failed to build on Barnes’ early goal, lost key battles in midfield, and were fortunate to reach half-time still in front.
Howe had praised Aubameyang’s sharpness before the match, and the Gabonese veteran proved him right. Newcastle’s sloppy restart after the break, combined with Pope’s rash decision-making, gifted Marseille the equaliser — and only minutes later, Aubameyang’s second left Schär floored in disbelief.
Howe turned to Lewis Hall, Lewis Miley, Anthony Elanga and record signing Nick Woltemade, but Newcastle never looked like finding a response. Remarkably, Newcastle have won just once away from home in seven months — a 4–0 victory at Union St-Gilloise.
What’s next?
- Marseille: Host Toulouse in Ligue 1 on Saturday, 29 November, before travelling to Union St-Gilloise in the Champions League on 9 December.
- Newcastle: Visit Everton on Saturday, 29 November, then head to Bayer Leverkusen on 10 December in their next Champions League outing.