Newcastle lost 1-2 to Marseille after collapsing in the 10 minutes.

Within the first 10 minutes of the second half at the Velodrome, Newcastle squandered their advantage and fell behind 1-2 to Marseille. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a brace, erasing Harvey Barnes's opening goal in the 6th minute, exposing the recurring weakness of Eddie Howe's team in moments of lost control away from home.

The turning point: 10 minutes that cost everything.

Newcastle started confidently despite the fiery atmosphere at the Velodrome. Their thorough preparation helped them take an early lead when Harvey Barnes continued his excellent form, scoring the opening goal in the sixth minute. That advantage should have been the foundation for a controlled game, but signs of trouble appeared towards the end of the first half as Aubameyang had several chances.

Immediately after the break, a series of errors cost Newcastle dearly. Schar's indecisive clearance opened the floodgates for a series of failed challenges in the opponent's half. Timothy Weah spotted the space and threaded a sharp pass to Darryl Bakola, before the 17-year-old played a through ball for Aubameyang to break free. Nick Pope rushed out too far and too early, leaving him in a difficult position, allowing the 36-year-old striker to score from a tight angle. Eddie Howe affirmed after the match that he still "fully supports Pope".

Just four minutes later, the scenario repeated itself in a different way. Weah beat Livramento on the right wing and crossed, Aubameyang moved past Schar to tap the ball in for the second goal. The two incidents were minutes apart, but both reflected the same problem: a lack of defensive solidity and a slow reaction to the movements of the opposing striker.

Tactical angle: Newcastle open up the central area and the right flank.

Newcastle's weakness lay in the defensive transition moment. After Schar's failed clearance, the defensive structure was torn apart: the second line failed to close the gap in time, creating space for Weah to receive the ball with his back to the goal and unlock it with a low pass. Bakola's movement through the gap pulled the defense off-center and put Pope in a "win or lose" situation. With the goalkeeper having to handle the ball from such a wide angle, a delicate touch from Aubameyang was enough to seal the deal.

The second goal highlighted the problem on the right flank: Livramento was beaten one-on-one, the ball was delivered with awkward speed and trajectory, while Schar failed to control the space in front of him. Aubameyang cut across at the right moment, taking advantage of the center-back's momentum to gain the upper hand before finishing. Both plays showed Newcastle failed to defend the area right in front of their goal in crucial seconds.

Remaining developments: Early advantage is not enough.

Newcastle took an early lead and received several warnings in the first half, but failed to capitalize on their possession to seal the victory. After falling behind, they hardly created any strong enough chances to equalize. Their lack of sharpness and poor away form meant their remaining efforts were largely for show.

Data and context

• Newcastle have won six consecutive matches at St James' Park.
• He has only had one away win in the last seven months.
• The team is currently ranked 14th in the Premier League and their next match is an away game against Everton.

Reactions and message from Eddie Howe

Before the match, Howe admitted Aubameyang "looks as sharp as ever," and the first 10 minutes of the second half proved that. After the game, he defended Nick Pope, while also emphasizing team spirit: "We've been hurt, but the lads are still very resilient. We'll fight back."

To achieve this, Newcastle needs answers to those repeated "ten minutes of madness": decisive reinforcement at the back, closing down the space in front of the penalty area, and remaining calm in the face of sharp runs like Aubameyang's. When these small details are tightened, an early advantage will no longer be just an empty promise.