Major UEFA decision confirmed as Marseille receive fitness boost just hours ahead of Newcastle United clash
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Newcastle United latest news: Marseille have confirmed their squad ahead of tonight’s Champions League game - and there are more than a few familiar faces.
Marseille have confirmed their 21-man squad for tonight’s clash with Newcastle United in the Champions League.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side begin the matchweek sat 25th in the Champions League table having won just one of their four matches in this competition to date. Newcastle United, meanwhile, sit pretty in sixth place with nine points from their four outings.
Remarkably, Eddie Howe’s side could end the night top of the table if they win by a four-goal margin and Manchester City fail to beat Bayer Leverkusen. Of course, that task will be very difficult against a Marseille side that are going very well in the league and head into tonight’s game on the back of a thumping 5-1 win over local rivals Nice on Friday night.
Goals from former Premier League duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mason Greenwood gave Marseille a 3-0 lead at the Allianz Riviera before Timothy Weah and Igor Paixao secured a comfortable win. All five of those players could feature tonight having been named in Marseille’s matchday squad.
De Zerbi has also recalled former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to his squad after the Danish international was rested for their win over Nice. Nayef Aguerd, who also missed their last outing, has not been included by De Zerbi for tonight’s game after the Moroccan suffered a groin injury.
Leonardo Balerdi, who was heavily linked with a move to St James’ Park during the summer transfer window, could also feature against the Magpies tonight. CJ Egan-Riley, Emerson Palmieri, Angel Gomes and Matt O’Riley, who is currently on loan at Marseille from De Zerbi’s former side Brighton, are the other players in Marseille’s squad tonight with Premier League experience. Neal Maupay, though, has not been included after falling out of favour with his manager.
Marseille squad v Newcastle United in full
Goalkeepers: Jeffrey de Lange, Geronimo Rulli, Jelle van Neck.
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Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi, CJ Egan-RIley, Ulisses Garcia, Emerson Palmieri, Benjamin Pavard, Timothy Weah.
Midfielders: Darryl Bakola, Angel Gomes, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Bilal Nadir, Matt O’Riley, Arthur Vermeeren.
Forwards: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mason Greenwood, Tadjidine Mmadi, Igor Paixao, Robinio Vaz.
Marseille v Newcastle United referee confirmed
UEFA have also confirmed that Maurizio Mariani will referee tonight’s game at Stade Velodrome. Mariani is a very experienced Champions League referee and has already taken charge of two matches in this season’s league phase.
The 43-year-old whistler was the man in the middle for Liverpool’s dramatic 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid in September and also oversaw Bayern Munich’s victory against PSG at the Parc des Princes. Mariani sent off Luis Diaz in that game.
The Italian official will be joined by five of his fellow countrymen in charge of the match. Mariani will be assisted by Daniele Bindoni and Alberto Tegoni with Matteo Marchetti acting as fourth official between the two dugouts.
Marco Di Bello will be on VAR duty tonight and he will be assisted by Aleandro Di Paolo. Semi-automated offside technology is used in UEFA competitions and will once again be relied upon to make tight offside calls tonight.