Sunday afternoon ended Newcastle United 1 Strasbourg 1 after 90 minites.
Two things to take into account first of all.
Firstly, the ridiculous splitting of the team/squad over two games on consecutive days, just before the season starts, makes it difficult to properly judge this as a FIRST team performance.
Secondly, Strasbourg definitely didn’t look to have the same level of quality as Bayer Leverkusen.
On Saturday, Bayer Leverkusen were in front inside a minute.
Today Newcastle United almost took the lead within two minutes. Jacob Murphy’s cross met by a Will Osula header that the visiting keeper Jorgensen did well to tip over.
Strasbourg then having some decent possession without really creating anything, only for Dan Burn to nearly take the lead with 20 minutes played. Starting his first game since having been made captain, Burn heading just wide from Murphy’s corner.
That swiftly followed by Murphy playing in Leo Shahar and a very good defensive challenge preventing him scoring.
Having created the better chances, Newcastle almost fell behind on 24 minutes. A shot deflected wide and from the corner Becker seeing his effort hit the crossbar. A free-kick then from Strasbourg causing problems but the visitors unable to force the ball home.
Bamba then doing well to win the ball and his pass released Will Osula, who set Toure up but his effort over the bar.
Less than ten minutes to go to the break, Willock and Murphy both with chances and it should have been 1-0.
Almost immediately though it is 1-0, Shahar setting Murphy away and Osula doing well to get in front of the defender to score from the low cross.
Ramsey then putting Willock in and he sets Osula up for his second just before the break, only for the NUFC striker to give the keeper a chance to save when he should have scored.
United then emerged for the second half with a ridiculously young defence, Charlton (18) and Pivas (21) joining Shahar (19) and Charlton (20), with Jaouen (20) in goal.
Will Osula can’t complain about the lack of opportunities today, firing over the bar before then on the hour mark Toure plays him in but the Denmark international puts his effort wide.
With just over 20 minutes to go a mistake in his own penalty area by Jacob Ramsey allows Gessime Yassine to equalise. United punished as well for not taking their chances to make the game safe.
The dying stages seeing close things at both ends.
With 90 minutes on the clock, excellent from Toure to set up Shahar but he failed to take advantage and when it fell to Neave his effort blocked. Then down the other end, Yassine almost with his second goal and the winner, but Jaouen making an excellent save.
Now penalties to decide the winner…
Shockers over the bar from Ramsey and Osula, very good penalties from Toure and Neave. Luckily a couple of failures from Strasbourg as well. Bamba steps up and…hits the post. A win on penalties for the visitors.
Final thoughts:
Strasbourg were not of the level of Leverkusen and it definitely had a pre-season pace to it. The visitors ended up changing nearly all of their players which tested us a bit more as the game went on.
Corners and offensive free-kicks we didn’t look too good defending, Jaouen wasn’t tested in a way that Hornicek had been on Saturday with any inswingers.
Both Schar and Burn did enough without being really challenged, looked like they need some game time.
Jaouen – wasn’t tested much, couldn’t do anything for the goal
Shahar – did ok but I expect that Dedic will come straight in for the Liverpool game
Johnson and Pivas did ok
Charlton – had a decent game
Bamba – a raw talent for sure, positioning good, work rate spot on, but not sure he’s ready for the Premier League… yet.
Ramsey – was having an ok game but a terrible mistake lead to the equaliser
Willock – a decent first half and then the usual in the second and then off injured
Toure – not as good as he has been in previous games but still think he will prove to be a good signing.
Murphy – so much space and had a decent game, some great crosses including the one for the first goal
Osula – great goal and had other chances, should have scored more!
Final Score
Newcastle United 1 Strasbourg 1 (Strasbourg win 3-2 on penalties)
Goals
Strasbourg: Yassine 69
Newcastle United: Osula 43
Newcastle United team v Strasbourg:
Jaouen, Shahar, Schar (Pivas 46), Burn (Johnson 46), Charlton, Bamba, Willock (Finneran 87), Ramsey, Murphy (Neave 75), Toure, Osula
Subs:
Gillespie, Sanusi
Newcastle United schedule:
Saturday 18 July 2026
Newcastle United 3 Darlington 0 (Willock, Osula, Neave with the goals)
Saturday 25 July 2026
Gateshead 1 Newcastle United 1 (An own goal giving United the draw)
Wednesday 29 July 2026
Bristol City 4 Newcastle United 1 (Harvey Barnes getting the NUFC goal)
Saturday 8 August 2026
Valencia 1 Newcastle United 2 (Two goals from Yoane Wissa giving United the comeback win after going a goal down on four minutes)
Wednesday 12 August 2026
Newcastle 1 Everton 3 (Harvey Barnes getting the NUFC goal)
Saturday 15 August 2026
Newcastle United 1 Bayer Leverkusen 2 (Malick Thiaw with the United goal)
Sunday 16 August 2026
Newcastle United 1 Strasbourg 0 (Will Osula scoring just before half-time)
Sunday 23 August 2026
Newcastle v Liverpool 4.30pm – United’s first Premier League match of the season