Saturday afternoon ended Newcastle United 1 Bayer Leverkusen 2.
Matthias Jaissle experiencing his first ever match at St James’ Park.
A crowd of over 39,000 turning up to welcome the new boss.
Not the greatest start to his SJP experience though, as an excellent long range effort from Ibrahim Maza gave the visitors an early lead inside 45 seconds. Lewis Hall should have maybe done better in terms of closing him down.
Bayer Leverkusen going on to control the opening 25-30 minutes.
One of the big talking points when the teams were announced, brothers Lewis and Mason Miley in the starting eleven.
Great to see Lewis Miley back fit after his broken leg and he was eased in with 45 minutes today.
Meanwhile, his 17 year old brother can be well pleased with his first ever experience with the senior side at St James’ Park, albeit a friendly, filling in at right-back.
Mason Miley almost getting an assist as well, his ball picking out Yoane Wissa but his shot saved by Flekken, Barnes also going close with another opportunity.
Newcastle United then trumping the World Cup nonsense, a drinks break AND a shirt change midway through the first half. The almost totally white back of the Newcastle first shirt clashing with Bayer Leverkusen strip, so United changing to the Lilac third top but retaining the first strip socks and shorts.
Photo by The Mag
The shirt change didn’t do any harm as Newcastle United then started to pick up and the last 15-20 minutes of that opening half saw some real promising football from the hosts.
That culminated in a pretty much deserved equaliser just before the break, Malick Thiaw powering home a header from a deep Anthony Elanga corner.
The (even more now!) ridiculous idea of splitting the Newcastle United team/squad across two friendlies on consecutive days a week before the new season, was really shown up here I think and did Matthias Jaissle absolutely no favours.
Surely he would have wanted to put his best available eleven out here, ahead of Liverpool next weekend.
You can say great experience for the kids who take up the slack but we are miles away from having that kind of luxury in the current position the team and club find themselves in.
Usually a midfielder, Mason Miley did well at right-back until subbed off late on with a knock but the 17 year old won’t be anywhere near the starting eleven against Liverpool.
Rory Finneran is a great prospect and in a year or two who knows, but the 18 year old part of a very youthful bench with others kept for tomorrow, so he came on after the break with Lewis Miley limited to a half.
Photo by Jamie Smith via The Mag
The second half was poor and you couldn’t complain when they grabbed a late win, Victor Boniface scoring in the 82nd minute, Sean Steur should have done better. Though maybe no surprise as the 18 year old Dutch midfielder was no doubt a bit knackered by that point against decent level opposition who brought on quality subs that clearly gave them an added advantage.
The best moment of a poor second half was probably a good break from Yoane Wissa but Woltemade’s shot was straight at the keeper.
The mood felt a bit low, a bit of a non-event.
Newcastle didn’t create many chances and scored from a set play, a really drab second half until the visitors scored and then we woke up a bit.
All a bit low key and no one driving the team.
Yes, it’s pre season, but other than Yoane Wissa I’m not sure anyone was really willing to ‘give it a go’.
Some instant reflections on the individuals…
Hornie – did ok, maybe should have done better with the first goal, can’t say he totally looks like Premier League starting material but is young and promising. It’s a gamble in my opinion for him being our starter for the EPL season.
Miley M – for 17 and not a right back the lad done well
Thiaw – solid enough
Botman – did ok
Hall – disappointing again (and he is my favourite player!), tell him he can use his right foot not for just standing on…
Miley L – solid
Steur – poor for the second goal
Elanga – pains me to say it, same old Elanga
Barnes – some good, some not so
Woltemade – hardly involved, looking so ‘awkward’ (again, I like him!)
Wissa – probably our brightest player, again!
Finneran – looked busy
Final Score
Newcastle United 1 Bayer Leverkusen 2
Goals
Bayer Leverkusen: Maza 1, Boniface 82
Newcastle United: Thiaw 44
Newcastle United team v Bayer Leverkusen:
Hornicek, Mason Miley (Pivas 81), Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Lewis Miley (Finneran 46), Steur, Barnes, Elanga, Woltemade (Neave 86), Wissa
Subs:
Harris, Charlton, Johnson, 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 v Strasbourg friendly at St James’ Park, 4pm.
Sunday 23 August 2026
Newcastle v Liverpool 4.30pm – United’s first Premier League match of the season