Eddie Howe declares after defeat to Marseille ‘It could have been so different…’ | OneFootball

Eddie Howe watched on as Newcastle United took a sixth minute lead through Harvey Barnes.

United then battled away in the first half and whilst Marseille had chances, so did Newcastle on the counter as they attacked with pace and got numbers forward.

Having taken the lead inside six minutes of the match starting, Marseille then turned it around in the opening five minutes of the second half.

Nick Pope totally misjudging it when seconds after the break he attempted to sweep behind his defence but Aubameyang always getting there first and then a class finish from a tight angle out on the right.

Minutes later it was Aubamayang again, a very sharp finish, this time Livramento should have done better to try and stop the cross and then Schar could have been tighter on the striker, though no denying it was a high class goal.

Newcastle United gave as good as they got in this game and are left to rue that five minute spell that lost them this match. No wonder Eddie Howe has declared after the match that; “It could have have been so different…”

Eddie Howe speaking to UEFA after Marseille 2 Newcastle 1:

“Such disappointment for us because it could have been so different.

“It started so well, we took a really positive step forward in the way we approached the game today.

“We were a transition threat, we pressed really well in the first half, and it could have been so different…”

Eddie Howe on the second half:

“I think that goal straight after half-time changes the feeling around the whole stadium and the game itself.

“I think it was a lapse in concentration on our behalf and then we perhaps didn’t react well enough to that.

“We conceded the second, and from then on, it was difficult.”

Eddie Howe on Newcastle United’s Champions League campaign:

“We’ve worked hard to get ourselves into this position.

“There are a lot of tests ahead and a lot of tough away games during this period, but today’s a disappointment.”

Marseille 2 Newcastle 1 – Tuesday 25 November 2025 8pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Barnes 6

Marseille:

Aubameyang 46, 50

Possession was Newcastle 43% Marseille 57%

Total shots were Newcastle 20 Marseille 18

Shots on target were Newcastle 9 Marseille 7

Corners were Newcastle 5 Marseille 11

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 31 Marseille 26

Newcastle team v Marseille:

Pope, Livramento (Hall 60), Thiaw, Schar (Elanga 61), Burn, Willock (Ramsey 72), Bruno, Tonali, Barnes, Gordon (Woltemade 72), Murphy (Miley 60)