Marseille vs Newcastle: Match preview, head-to-head, team news, key players | OneFootball

Marseille face Newcastle United in the Champions League at Stade Velodrome on Tuesday evening.

The French side lost 1-0 at home to Atalanta in their last fixture and are now winless in their last two matches in the competition.

By contrast, Newcastle recorded a convincing 2-0 win over Athletic Club at St.James’ Park last time out.

Match preview

Marseille have picked up just three points in their opening four games and sit 25th in the standings, just outside the play-off spots.

The hosts have been brilliant in Ligue 1, where they are on a three-match winning streak but have struggled to replicate the same form in Europe.

Marseille head into the fixture on the back of a convincing 5-1 victory over Nice, but it remains to be seen whether they can build on that triumph against Newcastle.

The Magpies also beat Manchester City 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday and will aim to carry that momentum into this fixture.

Eddie Howe’s side have been flying high in Europe, collecting nine points from four games to sit joint-fifth.

Newcastle can move closer to qualifying for the knock-out phases for the first time in the Champions League era with a victory in this encounter.

Head-to-head

Marseille have faced Newcastle twice, in the 2003/04 UEFA Cup semi-final. The French side won at home and drew at St. James’ Park.

Team news

For Marseille, Nayef Aguerd, Hamed Traore, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Amir Murillo are doubtful. Amine Gouiri remains sidelined, and Facundo Medina is also expected to miss this clash.

Will Osula, Yoane Wissa, and Harrison Ashby are unavailable for the visitors. Lewis Hall, Antony Gordon and Kieran Trippier are fitness concerns.

Key players

Newcastle

Igor Paixao: He has found the back of the net three times — the most of any Marseille player.

Geronimo Rulli: Despite conceding five goals in four games, the Argentine goalkeeper has been a consistent performer for the French side in the competition.

Newcastle

Harvey Barnes: The match-winner versus Man City and second in the squad for goal involvements in the Champions League.

Nick Pope: One of the best goalkeepers in the competition so far, keeping three clean sheets in four games.

Stats from sofascore.com & uefa.com