A depleted Newcastle were held to a draw by Marseille in the first leg of their Uefa Cup semi-final. Newcastle were without Craig Bellamy, Kieron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas and Lee Bowyer but still had chances against disciplined opponents.
Shola Ameobi had a drive saved while Alan Shearer headed wide from six yards and Gary Speed also came close.
Marseille's Didier Drogba was a constant threat and he hit the post before shooting over late on.
Marseille will now be slight favourites going into the second leg, although the Magpies will be hoping some of their star players are back to give them a chance.
Under-strength Newcastle only had Ameobi playing after the England Under-21 striker had passed a late fitness test.
But he should still have given the home team the lead when he latched onto a Shearer flick-on only to shoot too near keeper Barthez, who saved with his legs.
Shearer was a real presence in the air and holding the ball up in attack for Newcastle but his customary prowess deserted him after a Drogba shot had been saved at the other end.
Shearer glanced a free-kick from Laurent Robert wide from six yards after getting in between his markers.
Immediately after the interval Drogba would almost certainly have scored only for the commanding Jonathan Woodgate to slide in and intercept a low cross to the near post with Marseille's lone forward ready to pounce.
A parried Shearer free-kick gave Speed a sight of goal but he shot wide as he twisted his body to try and steer the ball on target.
Newcastle were given a huge let-off when Robert lost the ball and, after a cross was quickly played in, the ever-alert Drogba's outswinging volley came back off the post.
Drogba and Newcastle substitute Michael Bridges traded putting angled efforts wide in some late drama before the spoils were shared.
Newcastle: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Woodgate, Bernard, Ambrose, Viana, Speed, Robert, Ameobi (Bridges 78), Shearer. Subs Not Used: Harper, Elliott, Bramble, Chopra, Brittain, Orr.
Marseille: Barthez, Beye, Hemdani, Meite, Ferreira, Flamini, N'Diaye, Dos Santos, Batlles (Celestini 90), Meriem, Drogba. Subs Not Used: Christanval, Vachousek, Ecker, Gavanon, Cicut, Cantareil.
Booked: Beye.
Attendance: 52,004
Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia).
MMIX
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We haven't let in an away goal so we can remain optimistic
