Olympique de Marseille had no choice but to win against Newcastle to maintain their chances of qualifying for the Champions League. Finished, despite a bad start to the game. In trouble against the enterprising Magpies, Marseillais conceded a first-minute goal through Harvey Barnes (6e).
It wasn’t until the dressing room returned that the Phocaean team reversed the trend. Seconds after the start of the second half, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was launched into the depths by Darryl Bakola, 17, who was celebrating his first start in an OM shirt. The striker from Gabon managed to beat Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope, who came very far from his home field and then scored into an empty net (46e) before doubling the lead moments later through a powerful cross from Timothy Weah (50e).
OM thus signed its second success in the Champions League this season after playing against Ajax Amsterdam on September 30 (4-0). 25e in the pre-meeting rankings, Phocéens was provisionally ranked 19the place and remain hopeful of qualifying for the remainder of the competition before facing Union Saint-Gilloise, Liverpool and Bruges.
What to remember
- Big name: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Very strong in the first half, the 36-year-old striker collected chances without finding the target, blocked well by Nick Pope. But he raised his voice of rebellion immediately after returning from the dressing room by scoring twice in four minutes.
6e0-1 : Marseille’s defense had difficulty blocking Sandro Tonali’s cross. Loitering in front of Geronimo Rulli’s goal, Anthony Gordon strayed behind him towards Harvey Barnes, alone. He outwitted the Marseille goalkeeper with a horizontal cross kick using his left foot.
46e1-1: Receiving a deep pass from Darryl Bakola, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang managed to beat Nick Pope who decided to go very far from his cage. The OM attacker only had to control the rolling ball which flew into the empty goal.
50e2-1: Timothy Weah crosses on the right for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The OM striker passed in front of his opponent at the near post and shot Nick Pope with the tip of his foot.
This is the number of saves Geronimo Rulli made for Marseille. This victory also belonged to him.
16 shots on target, attacks followed by counter-attacks, a reversal in four minutes, the Magpies fighting back until the end… We don’t sulk happily and give it a “B”.
