Marseille vs Newcastle United — Match Preview
The Champions League anthem returns to the Stade Vélodrome this Tuesday as Group Stage action pits Olympique de Marseille against Newcastle United. This fixture represents a clash of styles and momentums. Marseille, thriving under Roberto De Zerbi, are fresh off a 5-1 demolition of Nice and sit atop Ligue 1. The mood in Provence is electric, with veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrating his 400th career goal and Mason Greenwood in lethal form.
Newcastle United, meanwhile, arrive in France with renewed hope. After a difficult spell left them 14th in the Premier League, Eddie Howe’s men secured a massive 2-1 victory over Manchester City last weekend, thanks to a Harvey Barnes masterclass. With both teams needing points to secure knockout stage qualification, expect a tactical war between De Zerbi’s “bait-and-switch” possession and Howe’s high-intensity pressing game.
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Marseille vs Newcastle United
- Competition: UEFA Champions League (Group Stage)
- Venue: Orange Vélodrome, Marseille (Capacity: 67,394)
- Date: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
- Kickoff Time: 21:00 CET / 20:00 GMT / 01:30 IST (Wednesday)
- Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Expected)
- VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski
- TV Channel (UK): TNT Sports 1
- TV Channel (USA): Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
- TV Channel (India): Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV, JioTV
- Live Stream: Paramount+ (USA), SonyLIV (India)
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Marseille:
- Position: 1st in Ligue 1; Fighting for top spot in CL Group.
- Form: Explosive. They hammered Nice 5-1 away from home, with Aubameyang and Greenwood unplayable. Their only recent blemish was a narrow 0-1 loss to Atalanta in Europe.
- Current Challenge: Translating their domestic dominance to the European stage against a Premier League side that transitions with frightening speed.
Newcastle United:
- Position: 14th in Premier League; Competitive in CL Group.
- Form: Resilient. The 2-1 win vs Manchester City stopped the rot after losses to Brentford and West Ham.
- Current Challenge: Consistency. Eddie Howe needs to prove the City win wasn’t a one-off and that his injury-hit squad can perform twice in three days.
Marseille vs Newcastle United — What’s at Stake
For Marseille:
- Fortress Vélodrome: De Zerbi wants to make Marseille a nightmare venue for visitors. A win here would put them in pole position to qualify for the Round of 16.
For Newcastle United:
- Momentum & Survival: A win would essentially secure their path to the knockouts and prove they have turned a corner after a rocky start to the season.
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Team Form
Marseille (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Nice (5-1)
- W vs Brest (3-0)
- L vs Atalanta (0-1 – CL)
- W vs Auxerre (1-0)
- D vs Angers (2-2)
Newcastle United (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Manchester City (2-1)
- L vs Brentford (1-3)
- W vs Athletic Bilbao (2-0 – CL)
- L vs West Ham (1-3)
- W vs Tottenham (2-0 – EFL)
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Team News
Marseille:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Available. The 36-year-old just scored his 400th career goal and is in peak condition.
- Facundo Medina: Out (Sprained Ankle).
- Hamed Traorè: Out (Thigh Injury).
- Amir Murillo: Out (Thigh Injury).
- Nayef Aguerd: Out (Groin Injury – A big loss for the defense).
- Amine Gouiri: Out (Shoulder Injury).
Newcastle United:
- Anthony Gordon: Doubtful (Hip Injury – Harvey Barnes likely continues on the left).
- William Osula: Out (Ankle Injury).
- Yoane Wissa: Out (Knee Injury).
- Nick Woltemade: Available. The £69m signing has struggled for consistency but offers a unique target man profile.
- Malick Thiaw: Available. The former Milan man was a rock against Man City and will start.
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Head to Head
- 07 May 2004: Marseille 2–0 Newcastle (UEFA Cup Semi-final)
- 23 Apr 2004: Newcastle 0–0 Marseille (UEFA Cup Semi-final)
- History: These two haven’t met in over 20 years. The last time they played, a certain Didier Drogba broke Newcastle hearts at the Vélodrome.
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Predicted Lineups
Marseille (5-4-1 / 3-4-2-1 Hybrid):
De Zerbi is using a flexible system where Lirola and Garcia provide width, while Højbjerg controls the tempo.
- GK: Geronimo Rulli
- RWB: Pol Lirola
- CB: Benjamin Pavard
- CB: Leonardo Balerdi (C)
- CB: CJ Egan-Riley
- LWB: Ulisses Garcia
- CM: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
- CM: Matthew O’Riley
- RW: Mason Greenwood
- LW: Igor Paixão
- ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Newcastle United (4-3-3):
Howe sticks to the system that beat Man City. Barnes keeps his place after his brace.
- GK: Nick Pope
- RB: Kieran Trippier
- CB: Malick Thiaw
- CB: Sven Botman
- LB: Daniel Burn
- CM: Sandro Tonali
- CM: Bruno Guimarães
- CM: Joelinton
- RW: Jacob Murphy
- ST: Nick Woltemade
- LW: Harvey Barnes
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Impact Bench Options
Marseille:
- Elye Wahi: If Aubameyang tires, Wahi offers electric pace to stretch Newcastle’s defense late in the game.
- Ismaïla Sarr: A direct runner who can exploit tired legs on the counter.
Newcastle United:
- Alexander Isak: If fit enough for the bench, he is the ultimate game-changer.
- Lewis Hall: Can come on to add energy and technical quality on the left flank if Burn gets exposed by Greenwood.
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Tactical Outlook
Marseille:
- Playing Style: De Zerbi Ball. Expect Marseille to invite Newcastle’s press deep into their own box before playing rapid vertical passes to Greenwood and Paixão. With O’Riley and Højbjerg in midfield, they have the technical security to keep the ball under pressure.
- Weakness: Defensive Absences. Missing Medina and Aguerd disrupts their build-up play from the back. A high press from Newcastle could force errors from Egan-Riley.
Newcastle United:
- Playing Style: Intensity & Directness. Howe will instruct his team to bypass Marseille’s midfield press by hitting long diagonals to Woltemade, who can hold up the ball for Barnes and Murphy.
- Strength: Midfield Power. The trio of Bruno, Tonali, and Joelinton is physically superior to Marseille’s midfield. They will look to bully O’Riley and win second balls.
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Ulisses Garcia vs. Jacob Murphy | Pace Duel: Garcia loves to attack, which leaves space behind. Murphy’s speed in transition will be Newcastle’s main outlet. | Newcastle |
| Leonardo Balerdi vs. Nick Woltemade | Physicality vs. Height: Balerdi is aggressive, but Woltemade is a giant. If Woltemade dominates the aerial duels, Newcastle can control the game. | Newcastle |
| Pierre-Emile Højbjerg vs. Bruno Guimarães | The General vs. The Artist: Højbjerg must stop Bruno from turning and dictating play. A classic midfield scrap. | Tie |
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Spotlight Players
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marseille):
The Gabonese hitman is defying time. Fresh off his 400th career goal, his movement is still elite. He will look to peel off the slower Dan Burn and exploit the space in the channels.
Harvey Barnes (Newcastle United):
The hero against Man City. Barnes is currently playing with sky-high confidence. His ability to cut inside and shoot from distance is vital for a Newcastle side missing Gordon and Isak (from the start).
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Fan Reactions
Marseille Fans:
“Greenwood and Auba are on fire. If we play like we did against Nice, Newcastle won’t know what hit them.”
“Our defense worries me without Aguerd, but De Zerbi will just tell us to score more than them!”
Newcastle Fans:
“We beat City, we can beat anyone! Woltemade needs to step up again.”
“Going to the Vélodrome is scary, but we have big-game players. Bruno lives for this.”
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Where to Watch
- UK: TNT Sports 1
- USA: Paramount+
- India: Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV, JioTV
- France: Canal+, RMC Sport
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Match-Defining Factors
- The Vélodrome Atmosphere: It is one of the most hostile stadiums in Europe. If Newcastle concede early, the noise can be suffocating.
- Newcastle’s Left Side: Dan Burn at left-back against Mason Greenwood is a massive mismatch in terms of agility. Howe might need Joelinton to double up defensively.
- Fatigue: Newcastle played a high-intensity game vs City just 3 days ago. Will their legs hold up for 90 minutes of De Zerbi’s passing carousel?
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Prediction
Score Prediction: Marseille 2–1 Newcastle United
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Marseille to Win.
- Both Teams to Score: YES (Marseille score for fun at home; Newcastle have Barnes in form).
- Anytime Goalscorer: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (He is on a hot streak).
Analysis: Newcastle’s win against City was impressive, but replicating that energy away at Marseille just 72 hours later is a huge ask. De Zerbi’s side is rested, confident, and lethal at home. Expect Greenwood to torment Dan Burn and Aubameyang to snatch the winner.
Marseille vs Newcastle United — Final Word
This is the standout fixture of the Champions League night. Marseille are playing champagne football under De Zerbi, while Newcastle are rediscovering their grit. While the Magpies will fight hard, the Vélodrome factor and Marseille’s superior attacking form should see the French giants edge a thrilling contest.
Marseille vs Newcastle United — FAQs
When is the Marseille vs Newcastle match?
The match is on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, at 21:00 CET (Wednesday 01:30 IST).
Is Anthony Gordon playing?
He is listed as Doubtful with a hip injury. Harvey Barnes is expected to start in his place.
Who is Marseille’s key threat?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who recently scored his 400th career goal, and Mason Greenwood are the main dangers.
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can watch live on Sony Sports Network and stream on SonyLIV or JioTV.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Can Newcastle survive the Vélodrome cauldron? Drop your score predictions below!
If you enjoyed this preview, follow SportsphereArena.com for post-match ratings, tactical deep dives, and exclusive fan analysis.
Stay connected for real-time updates across football, tennis, and cricket.
Stay informed. Stay analytical. Stay in the game — with Sportsphere Arena.
RELATED ARTICLE
Luton Town vs Huddersfield Town: Preview
Watford vs Preston North End: Preview
Peterborough United vs Stevenage: Preview
Ajax vs Benfica — Match Preview
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Match Preview
Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen — Match Preview
External Link
About the Author
10 thoughts on “Marseille vs Newcastle United: Preview, Prediction, Lineups | Champions League 2025/26”