Champions League: Marseilles Mad for a Euro Lift-Off!

Olympique Marseille vs Newcastle United

European football is back on the agenda this week and there’s a fascinating coming together on the South Coast of France, where Champions League: Marseilles vs Newcastle is the entertainment on offer.

There’s a stark difference between the North East of England and the Cote D’Azur but, while the Newcastle fans can expect a sunnier and drier climate when they reach Marseilles, their reception at the Orange Velodrome on Tuesday night is more likely to be hot than warm.   

While Newcastle are sitting pretty in the top eight of the early Champions League table, with three wins and one defeat, Marseilles are in the elimination places with a solitary win and three defeats and Roberto De Zerbi’s side will be keen to put that right against Eddie Howe’s travelling Magpies.

Both teams will arrive at the ground full of confidence. Marseilles thrashed Nice 5-1 to stay second in the Ligue 1 table, two points behind Paris Saint-Germain and with a better goal difference, while Newcastle pulled off the result of the weekend with a sensational 2-1 victory over Manchester City.     

 

Talking Points

Magic Mason is so hot for Les Olympiens  

He left Manchester United under a dark cloud; but one of the most remarkable re-inventions is playing out in the South of France as Mason Greenwood has become the darling of Marseilles. He burst onto the scene as a 17 year old at Old Trafford back in 2019 and he won an England cap a year later. But, after going off the rails, he was shipped out to Getafe and then sold to Marseilles for a fee of 31m Euros, a move the mayor of Marseilles branded ‘a disgrace’.

But, still only 24 years of age Greenwood has scored 31 goals in 46 games for the French giants and he has become one of the most feared strikers in Europe. Greenwood leads the race for the Ligue 1 Golden Boot with ten goals and three assists from 12 games, and, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi long gone from the French top flight, he’s a good bet to pick up that prize.

Alongside him, the experienced Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has five league goals and attacking midfielder Angel Gomes is another attacking threat.  

Marseilles’ clash with Atalanta, last time out in Europe, was a frustrating night for De Zerbi. With 15 shots to eight and four to three on target Les Olympiens had plenty of ball in the final third but failed to make a single clear cut chance, and they were stung by an 89^th minute breakaway winner from Lazar Samardzic. There was even time for Greenwood to force a 98^th minute save with a long range effort which was flying towards the top right corner   

 

Barnes makes his case again  

On Saturday the Geordies welcomed Manchester City on a wild and wintery day, and they made the most of their home advantage with a 2-1 victory which scuppered the Sky Blues’ charge towards the top of the table. He’s often an unsung hero among English football fans but forward Harvey Barnes has a habit of scoring on the big occasions and he was the difference again on Saturday as he bagged a late brace to stun the Citizens.

The win deprived Pep Guardiola’s side of a chance to close the gap at the top to a single point and it was the first time Newcastle had beaten City in the Premier League since 2019. Barnes first came just after the hour when he took a pass from Bruno Guimaraes and slid the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma and, after Ruben Dias had levelled for the visitors, the 27 year old smashed home his and the Magpies’ second. 

Howe is blessed with wide players and attacking midfielders, with the likes of Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy and Anthony Elanga all pushing for a start; but the manager knows he can always rely on Barnes when the stakes are high.     

 

History

Marseilles were the 1992/93 European Champions and are nine times Ligue 1 winners, most recently in 2010, while Newcastle where the English Champions four times, but the most recent triumph was almost a century ago way back in 1927. 

This is the first time these two clubs have met in the Champions League; so without any head to head Marseilles vs Newcastle results to work on let’s take a look at how they have shaped up in October and November.

Neither club has been particularly consistent in recent weeks; Marseilles have won three, drawn one and lost two of their last six games, in all competitions, while Newcastle have won four and lost two. The Marseilles vs Newcastle betting odds say we’re in for a cracker of a clash so now’s the time for me to make my pick.

 

Betting Tip

Marseilles can be backed at 2.75 and Newcastle the slight favourites at SBOTOP odds of 2.40 with the draw at 3.30.

Les Oympiens have been ahead at half time in each of their last three league games, winning all three, and they will be determined to show a sharper attacking edge than they did against La Dea. I expect De Zerbi’s team to come out flying and the Magpies will do well to weather the storm.

   

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