But it might have been so totally different after Newcastle initially dealt with a white-hot ambiance so nicely by gaining the higher hand.
The noise ranges have been actually deafening earlier than kick-off – even referee Maurizio Mariani and the officers have been loudly whistled once they emerged for the warm-up.
Flares have been let off, ticker tape flickered within the air and a shocking tifo rose from the terraces with an accompanying banner studying “For my city, for my membership”.
However Newcastle have been prepared for it.
That they had travelled early, skilled on the Velodrome on Monday night and seemed to organize barely otherwise on sport day, “to maintain the gamers mentally engaged and prepared for this sport” in Howe’s personal phrases.
That preparation seemed to have paid off in opposition to a aspect second in Ligue 1.
Slightly than being cowed by the group, Newcastle made an aggressive begin.
They received their reward when Harvey Barnes – recent from his match-winning double in opposition to Manchester Metropolis on Sunday – fired his aspect in entrance within the sixth minute.
However, crucially, Newcastle didn’t press dwelling their benefit and Marseille rallied.
The guests had sufficient warnings after Aubameyang spurned a collection of alternatives within the first half.
Nevertheless, the much-travelled Marseille ahead was not so forgiving after the break, as Newcastle paid a heavy value for a sloppy kick-off.
Defender Fabian Schar punted the ball ahead and his aspect didn’t get it again beneath management after shedding a collection of duels deep within the opposition half.
It was far too straightforward for Timothy Weah to take a variety of gamers out of the sport with a cross to Darryl Bakola and the 17-year-old performed a through-ball into the right-hand channel behind Newcastle’s defence.
A Marseille equaliser was not precisely a foregone conclusion given how distant Aubameyang was from purpose.
However keeper Nick Pope rushed off his line in an try and get there forward of Aubameyang, solely to be caught in no man’s land because the ahead nipped in and completed beautifully from a good angle out on the correct wing.
Howe was eager to emphasize he “backed” Pope after the sport, regardless of the poor determination, pointing to how the goalkeeper made “some actually good saves in opposition to Manchester Metropolis simply three days in the past”.
However this was an evening the place his aspect’s vulnerabilities on the again, and on the street, reared their head once more.
