Auba turns back time: Gabonese scores a brace to stun Newcastle at wild Velodrome

Marseille refused to die. Under the lights of a roaring Velodrome, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 36 years old and hungry as ever - struck twice in four frantic minutes to flip the match on its head and hand OM a priceless 2-1 comeback win over Newcastle United.

The night had begun like a nightmare for Roberto De Zerbi's side. Sloppy, nervous, shaky. And they paid for it early: Harvey Barnes pounced on a chaotic sequence in the box after Balerdi's poor clearance, drilling home past Rulli to silence the stadium.

Newcastle executed Eddie Howe's plan perfectly in the first half - deep block, quick breaks, total control without the ball. Marseille had nothing but half-chances from Aubameyang, kept in check by Botman and Thiaw, while Rulli had to produce a strong save to deny Anthony Gordon on the counter.

But the match changed instantly after the break.

A sharp through ball from Darryl Bakola sliced Newcastle open, and Aubameyang rounded Nick Pope with cold precision to level the score. Minutes later, Timothy Weah whipped in a low cross, and the Gabonese striker darted ahead of Botman to flick in the winner at the near post.

From there, OM dug in. Elanga went close, Newcastle piled bodies forward and sent in set pieces from every angle, but Marseille held their line until the final whistle unleashed a thunderous Velodrome roar.

A colossal victory. A lifeline. And thanks to Aubameyang's vintage brace, OM stay alive in the race for the Champions League knockouts.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 5

Tuesday

Ajax - Benfica 0-2 (0-1)

/Dahl 6, Barreiro 90/

Galatasaray - St. Gilloise 0-1 (0-0)

/David 57/

Bodo - Juventus 2-3 (1-0)

/Blomberg 27, Fet 87(p) - Openda 48, McKennie 59, David 90+1/

Chelsea - Barcelona 3-0 (1-0)

/Kounde 17(og), Estevao 55, Delap 73/

Dortmund - Villareal 4-0 (1-0)

/Guriassy 45+2, 54, Adeyemi 58, Svensson 90+5/

Manchester City - Leverkusen 0-2 (0-1)

/Grimaldo 23, Schick 54/

Napoli - Qarabag 2-0 (0-0)

/McTominay 65, Jankovic 72(og)/

Olympique Marseille - Newcastle 2-1 (0-1)

/Aubameyang 46, 51 - Barnes 6/

Slavia Praha - Athletic Bilbao 0-0

Wednesday

20.45: (1.35) Copenhagen (5.50) Kairat Almaty (10.0)

20.45: (5.10) Paphos (3.70) Monaco (1.70)

23.00: (2.25) Arsenal (3.65) Bayern (3.20)

23.00: (2.35) Atl.Madrid (3.50) Inter (3.20)

23.00: (2.60) Eintr.Frankfurt (3.50) Atalanta (2.85)

23.00: (1.35) Liverpool (5.80) PSV (9.00)

23.00: (7.20) Olympiakos (5.20) Real Madrid (1.42)

23.00: (1.37) PSG (5.10) Tottenham (7.75)

23.00: (1.70) Sporting (4.30) Club Brugge (4.80)

***odds are subject to change***