Newcastle United lost 2-1 to Bayer Leverkusen at St James’ Park in manager Matthias Jaissle’s first home match in charge.
Key facts
- •Bayer Leverkusen secured the win with a late goal from Victor Boniface.
- •Newcastle’s goal was scored by Malick Thiaw following a corner from Anthony Elanga.
- •Ibrahim Maza opened the scoring for Leverkusen within the first minute of the match.
- •Newcastle captain Dan Burn and deputy captain Joelinton did not participate in the match.
- •Newcastle is in negotiations to sign 23-year-old Benfica defender Amar Dedic.
Newcastle United suffered a 2-1 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in a pre-season friendly at St James’ Park on Saturday. The match, attended by over 39,000 spectators, marked the first home game for new manager Matthias Jaissle following the departure of Eddie Howe in late July. Despite an equalizing header from Malick Thiaw, a late goal from Victor Boniface secured the victory for the German side.
By the numbers
Managerial Transition and Squad Changes
Matthias Jaissle, formerly of Al-Ahli, has taken over a Newcastle squad currently undergoing significant transition. The team is adjusting to the departures of key players Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimarães. Jaissle is currently evaluating his roster, which includes several young talents; the club has signed four players aged 20 or under since June, including 18-year-old Sean Steur.
Performance and Player Developments
The match saw 17-year-old academy product Mason Miley perform at right-back, earning praise from Jaissle for his attitude and quality. Lewis Miley also made his first appearance since breaking his leg last spring. While the team showed incremental improvement during the first half, the squad remains under pressure ahead of their Premier League opener against Liverpool next Sunday. The club is reportedly close to finalizing a move for 23-year-old Benfica right-back Amar Dedic.
Transfer Market Challenges
Newcastle is actively seeking to address a leadership vacuum in midfield. The club has faced setbacks in recruitment, with Marseille’s Pierre-Emile Højbjerg declining a £13 million move to the team. Additionally, Bayern Munich’s João Palhinha has yet to be persuaded to join the club. Manager Jaissle remains optimistic, stating that he is not concerned about the upcoming challenges despite the team's current state of transition.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian Football.
