Aubameyang Brace Completes Marseille’s Champions League Comeback Against Newcastle
Marseille staged a remarkable turnaround at the Stade Vélodrome, defeating Newcastle United 2-1 thanks to a stunning brace from veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The victory halted Newcastle’s impressive run in the competition and ended a 15-year wait for a win over English opposition for the French side.
Newcastle appeared to be in control early, taking the lead after just six minutes when Harvey Barnes scored his fourth goal of the competition. The quick start saw the away side threaten further, with a Malick Thiaw header cleared off the line by former Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
However, the complexion of the match shifted dramatically after halftime. Aubameyang ignited the comeback, latching onto a through pass from Darryl Bakola and deftly maneuvering past on-rushing goalkeeper Nick Pope before curling a shot into the net. “It was a great game, we started a bit sloppy. But I think we reacted well, and it was important to win today,” Aubameyang told TNT Sports after the match.
Just moments later, the 36-year-old Aubameyang, demonstrating a surprising turn of pace, tapped home a cross from Timothy Weah to complete the turnaround. This marked his 19th and 20th Champions League goals, denying Newcastle a fourth consecutive win and the opportunity to climb to fourth place in their group.
Aubameyang’s recent form has been exceptional, with the brace bringing his goal contributions to 16 in 16 games for Marseille. The forward, who recently celebrated his 400th career goal, expressed his continued enjoyment of the game. “I feel great, even if I’m 36, but I’m enjoying myself. When you leave these types of games, you want to play and score more,” he said.
The defeat represents a setback for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, particularly after their strong performance against Manchester City in the Premier League. According to Howe, the start of the second half proved decisive. “I thought the effort was good. I think the start of the second half, obviously, was a big one for us – 15 minutes at the start of the second half, I thought, cost us,” he explained to TNT Sports.
The loss also exacerbates Newcastle’s struggles away from home, where they have secured only one win in their last eight matches. A senior official noted that failing to capitalize on their momentum could see the Magpies slip out of the top eight.
Here are the player ratings from the match:
Newcastle: Pope (3), Murphy (4), Schar (5), Burn (4), Livramento (5), Guimaraes (5), Tonali (4), Willock (4), Barnes (7), Gordon (6)
Subs: Hall (6), Miley (6), Elanga (6), Ramsey (6), Woltemade (6)
Newcastle will look to rebound from this defeat in their upcoming fixtures. .
