OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE
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STADE VELODROME
Our second away CL game of this season's campaign sees us go back to the south coast of France for the first time in 21 years. Probably the second biggest club in France, they won the first UEFA Champions League in 1993 (which was just the European Cup given a fancy new name, no new formatting that point). That Marseille side of the early 90s was also shortly thereafter done for match fixing, chortle. You can watch a video about that here if you want.
LAST TIME OUT?
Our 2003-04 run in the UEFA Cup (which only happened due to us failing to qualify for the Champions League in a 2 legged qualifier against Partizan Belgrade in August) took us to the semi final, where we drawn against Marseille. Spearheaded by Didier Drogba, we drew the first leg at SJP 0-0 before travelling to the Velodrome. Losing Woodgate to injury a week and a half before it didn't help but we were not at the races and were put away 2-0. Marseille then went on to play a Rafa Benitez managed Valencia in the final who beat them 2-0.
That UEFA Cup tie for some was the straw that broke the camel's back with Sir Bobby Robson. The league campaign, whilst resulting in a 5th placed finish, saw us win only 2 league matches away from home and finished the season on 56 points. Our record read as 13 wins, 17 draws and 8 defeats. Robson was sacked 4 games into 2004-05. A quite polarising period in the club's recent history from what I've read, heard and watched.
The teams at the Velodrome in '04;
OM: Barthez, Beye, Hemdani, Meite, Ferreira, Dos Santos, Flamini, N'Diaye, Meriem, Marlet, Drogba
NUFC: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Bramble, Bernard, Ambrose, Viana, Speed, Robert, Shearer, Ameobi
WHAT ABOUT THEM NOW?
They have quite a few Premier League connections and names you'll know. They are managed by former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and play very similar football to how Brighton did under him. They are coming off a 2nd place finish last season and sit 2nd in Ligue 1 currently. They have that rapist Mason Greenwood who is scoring plenty of goals for them; 21 last season and 10 currently. Shame, as he should be in prison. Aubameyang also is on their books, as is former West Ham & Chelsea full back Emerson, Southampton & Spurs midfielder Hojbjerg and wind up merchant Neal Maupay.
They lie 25th in the Champions League table, winning 1 and losing 3 out of 4. The one win being a pummeling of Ajax. But they lost their last CL home game, conceding late to Atalanta. That is their only home defeat of the season however; they are otherwise currently unbeaten at the Velodrome and won 5-1 at Nice on Friday.
HOW WELL DO WE DO IN FRANCE?
2023-24; drew 1-1 v PSG (Champions League)
2012-13; lost 2-0 v Bordeaux (Europa League)
2004-05; won 4-0 v Sochaux (UEFA Cup)
2003-04; lost 2-0 v Marseille (UEFA Cup)
2001-02; drew 0-0 v Troyes (Intertoto Cup)
1996-97; lost 3-0 v Monaco (UEFA Cup)
1996-97; drew 1-1 v Metz (UEFA Cup)
1977-78; lost 2-1 v Bastia (UEFA Cup)
ANY TIES BETWEEN THE CLUBS?
Hatem Ben Arfa;
Played for Newcastle United 2010-2014, 86 games, 14 goals.
Played for Marseille 2008-2010, 91 games, 15 goals.
Loic Remy;
Played for Newcastle United 2013-2014, 26 games, 14 goals.
Played for Marseille 2010-2013. 95 games, 39 goals.
Florian Thauvin;
Played for Newcastle United 2015-2016, 16 games, 1 goal.
Played for Marseille in two spells in 2013-2015 & 2016-2021, 281 games and 86 goals across both.
Remy Cabella;
Played for Newcastle United 2014-2015. 34 games, 1 goal.
Played for Marseille 2015-2018, 81 games, 13 goals.
Chancel Mbemba;
Played for Newcastle United 2015-2018. 59 games, 1 goal.
Played for Marseille 2022-2025. 85 games, 13 goals.
Habib Beye;
Played for Newcastle United 2007-2009. 54 games, 1 goal.
Played for Marseille 2003-2007. 167 games, 2 goals.
Chris Waddle;
Played for Newcastle United 1980-1985. 191 games, 52 goals.
Played for Marseille 1989-1992. 149 games, 29 goals.
Quite a hostile atmosphere awaits us and two trips to France with how the French police treat English football fans isn't probably the most ideal way our CL aways have been split. But still. If we can somehow manage a win here it would pretty much put 1 foot of ours into the knockout stages barring a total disaster. And it would make me think that top 8 and round of 16 is on, which would be massive as it means we won't play again in the CL until March so it would save us some weeks. However, Leverkusen appears more winnable than this and with a home game against PSV to come I think a point would be a great result.
To those travelling, please stay safe. Hooliganism in France has been rife the last 10 years and the French police are horrid bastards so watch out for them and Marseille radgies, if there are any.
Howay the lads!