Newcastle vs Bayer Leverkusen – News and Probable Lineups

On Saturday, Newcastle United will meet Bayer Leverkusen in their second-to-last friendly ahead of the new Premier League season at St James’ Park.

The Toon suffered a 3-1 defeat to Everton in their last friendly, while their Bundesliga rivals lost 2-1 to Nottingham Forest on the same day.

Match overview

While Newcastle fans shouldn’t take too much worry from their recent match against Everton, the nature of their performance close to the start of the season raises concerns.

The Toffees were ahead 3-0 before Harvey Barnes managed to score a late consolation goal just five minutes before the final whistle, and after the match, head coach Matthias Jaissle acknowledged that his team is not prepared for the league opener against Liverpool on August 23.

With several key players like Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes having departed, the club needs to be proactive in the closing weeks of the transfer window to avoid a shortage of personnel.

Across their five friendlies this summer, the Magpies have recorded two wins, two losses, and one draw, scoring eight goals but conceding nine.

Newcastle achieved victories in their last two home matches at St James’ Park during the 2025-26 season, but prior to that, they experienced six losses, one draw, and only two wins in their previous nine games at their ground.

Bayer Leverkusen faced a difficult season in the Bundesliga, finishing sixth with a total of 59 points, significantly lower than their tally in both the 2024-25 and 2023-24 seasons.

Throughout the season, the team had two full-time managers, Erik ten Hag and Kasper Hjulmand, but is currently under the guidance of Carles Martinez.

The Werkself are set to kick off their 2026-27 season on August 22 in the DFB-Pokal against Wehen Wiesbaden, followed by their first league game against Elversberg on August 29.

Despite their setback against Nottingham Forest, Leverkusen’s pre-season results have been strong as they had won their previous five friendlies while maintaining three clean sheets.

In their previous three encounters with Newcastle, Leverkusen earned a 2-2 draw in the Champions League back in December 2025, although they had previously drawn one and lost another in two earlier meetings with their English counterparts.

Team News

Newcastle is highly likely to field their new player Bazoumana Toure on the left side of the attack, while Anthony Elanga should be fit enough to take up the position on the right.

After losing both Sandro Tonali and Guimaraes in midfield, the Toon have signed Aladji Bamba from Mônaco, and it may be necessary for him to partner with Joelinton in this game.

Lewis Hall is doubtful due to an injury, and if he is unable to recover in time, Dylan Charlton is expected to take his place in the starting lineup.

Leverkusen’s forward Victor Boniface started as a substitute against Nottingham Forest, and after an injury-hit season in 2025-26, it will be critical for him to receive some playing time.

Midfielder Aleix Garcia was also a substitute against Forest, and it would be surprising if he did not see at least 45 minutes of action on Saturday.

Newcastle United probable starting XI:

Hornicek; Shahar, Thiaw, Botman, Charlton; Bamba, Joelinton; Elanga, Wissa, Toure; Osula

Bayer Leverkusen probable starting XI:

Blaswich; Vazquez, Bade, Belocian, Gutierrez; Fernandez, Garcia; Poku, Maza, Terrier; Boniface

The Toon is currently navigating a transition period, still adapting to Jaissle’s tactical approach.

This presents an opportunity for Leverkusen to capitalize on Newcastle’s weaknesses, and even though the match is at St James’ Park, the Magpies could find themselves facing yet another loss.