Marseille and Newcastle’s only previous meetings in Europe came in the 2003-04 campaign, with the French side going unbeaten home (2-0) and away (0-0) versus the Magpies in the UEFA Cup semi-finals (finished as runners-up that season).

This will be the ninth time that Newcastle have faced a French side away from home in European competition, with their only victory from the previous eight (D3 L4) coming at Sochaux in the UEFA Cup in November 2004 (4-0).