Marseille 2 Newcastle 0
There are no English clubs left in Europe. Only 24 hours after French opposition accounted for Chelsea, Monaco's neighbours did for Newcastle United.
Again it was deserved. Newcastle rallied in the second half and Lee Bowyer came closest to scoring what would then have been an equaliser in the 76th minute. He was then lucky not to be sent off for a lunge as Marseille recovered their composure.
Five minutes later Didier Drogba calmly scored his second of the night, and Bobby Robson's players were sunk.
Drogba had his first on 18 minutes, his passage to it being aided by Hugo Viana's limp effort at a challenge. Viana is the sort of purchase that gets managers sacked and much, possibly even Robson's future, now depends on how Newcastle react in their last three Premiership fixtures.
Robson did not believe his team deserved to lose 2-0 and said afterwards: "It's been a long campaign - and this is the first time we have lost in 12 games."
Drogba will now be in Gothenburg on Wednesday week for the final against Valencia who beat Villareal 1-0 last night. Newcastle will know by then if they are in Europe at all next season.
Newcastle had been forewarned, of course, but that is not the same as experiencing the hostility first hand. Silencing such a stadium would be some achievement and while it was hardly quiet, Newcastle managed to give the locals nothing to celebrate in those vital opening 15 minutes.
Not even the most one-eyed fan could derive pleasure from Andy O'Brien's early yellow card for a trip on the lively Camel Meriem. O'Brien may not be Newcastle's most newsworthy individual, but he is a thoroughly decent character who gives his all, one who knew the repercussions instantly. He was one of four visiting players starting one booking away from being suspended from the final.
That, though, became a theoretical date for the Geordies when Drogba scored after 18 minutes.
It was a dreadful goal to concede, all the more as it started with a Newcastle attack. When Olivier Bernard was found in space by Laurent Robert it seemed Newcastle had a useful French connection of their own.
But Bernard's cross was headed away and Marseille were in swift forward motion.
Viana needed to make a header against Meriem but failed to do so, a fact that sums up so much about the Portuguese midfielder.
From Meriem the ball went to Drogba and Newcastle were panicking. Aaron Hughes did his best to cover but Drogba had entered the Newcastle area by then and beat Hughes with a drag-back before sliding the ball low past Shay Given.
As the stadium burst into colourful noise - and flames behind Fabien Barthez's net - Newcastle's players stared at Viana, even the mild-mannered Hughes.
"I still have something to prove to the supporters," the Portuguese had said in the morning paper.
Not long after that Viana gave a careless pass straight to Drogba. He immediately sent Steve Marlet, still owned by Fulham, on his way, but Given was off his line quickly.
Newcastle had no equivalent room. Shola Ameobi tried to fashion some space for himself but Shearer, alongside, was being contained by Habib Beye.
In fact Newcastle did well to go in at half-time only one behind because Marseille were beginning to find rhythm as the first half finished.
When, two minutes after the restart, Ameobi won a corner it seemed, fleetingly, that Viana had the possibility to atone for his earlier play, but the ball would not fall on to his left foot and the moment disappeared.
But it was to prove Newcastle had been woken up to attack. Suddenly Robert whipped in his first good cross of the game and Ameobi gave a glimpse of his talents with a swivel and shot that had Barthez worried.
Newcastle were in Marseille territory now and the hitherto excellent home defenders looked uncomfortable with the change in situation. Shearer was even afforded room to shoot, Barthez saving. Yet Newcastle were also capable of making defensive mistakes and Marlet nearly profited from one with a strong volley.Given then rescued O'Brien.
Robson, seeking to restore the visitors' momentum, withdrew Viana and sent on Bowyer. Newcastle's season had reached that stage.
OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE:Barthez, Beye, Hemdani, Meite, Ferreira, Dos Santos, Flamini, N'Diaye, Meriem, Marlet (Batlles 81), Drogba (Vachousek 90). Subs Not Used: Gavanon, Christanval, Ecker, Celestini, Merlin. Booked: Beye, Flamini. Goals: Drogba 18, 82.
NEWCASTLE UTD:Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Bramble, Bernard, Ambrose, Viana (Bowyer 65), Speed, Robert, Shearer, Ameobi. Subs Not Used: Harper, Elliott, Bridges, Chopra, Brittain, Caldwell. Booked: O'Brien, Viana, Bowyer.
Referee:M Lubos (Slovakia).