Our penultimate pre-season friendly saw Newcastle United draw 2-2 against Spanish side Espanyol at St James’ Park.
The visitors took the lead in the first half with a thunderous strike that the debuting Aaron Ramsdale had simply no chance of stopping.
A mixed first half from Matt Targett saw him both score the equaliser and concede a penalty, but Ramsdale was the hero with him saving Puado’s spot-kick at the Leazes.
But the game was destined to be a draw, despite Jacob Murphy’s clutch goal that looked like a winger, as Espanyol nabbed an 89th equaliser to rob us of a first pre-season win.
Newcastle XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale – Krafth, Schar, Burn, Hall – Bruno, Miley, Targett – Murphy, Osula, Seung-soo
Subs: Ruddy, Gillespie, A Murphy, Heffernan, Bailey, Charlton, Shahar, Kuol, Neave, Harrison.
Espanyol XI (4-2-3-1): Dmitrovic – El Hilali, Miguel Rubio, Cabrera, Romero – Pol Lozano, Exposito – Sanchez, Roca, Puado – Roberto
Some bold calls from Howe for the Sela Cup weekender, opting to split some of his biggest names between the two games rather than fielding a full strength XI against Atletico Madrid.
Aaron Ramsdale was handed his debut by Howe, South Korean youngster Park Seung-soo was hoping to build on his impressive cameos in the pre-season tour of Asia, and Lewis Hall started for the first time in five months, seeing Matt Targett move into midfield.
After a slow start from both sides, it was the visitors who took the lead in surprise fashion: Exposito rifled a shot from range right into the back of the net – simply unstoppable and unlucky for Ramsdale to concede his first Newcastle goal that way.
We didn’t have to wait long for a reply, however, as some tidy work in the Espanyol box saw Lewis Miley pick up the ball, drive forward to the touchline, before a nice cross to the far post met the head of Matt Targett to bring us level.
.@Mattytargett on the scoresheet! ✊ pic.twitter.com/a805mJn2cZ
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) August 8, 2025
From there we started to enjoy the lion’s share of the possession, a much-needed improvement from some of the performances we’ve seen earlier this pre-season, even if we were missing that quality or spark in the final third at times, with Osula struggling to get into the game.
Though goalscoring hero Targett almost became the villain late in the first half, as a clumsy foul saw Espanyol awarded a penalty as Michael Oliver pointed to the spot.
Up stepped Puado, before Ramsdale delivered a big save to deny the midfielder, seeing the Leazes End belt out a big cheer for our new No. 32.
Superb, @AaronRamsdale98! ⛔️ pic.twitter.com/ailiDTbijk
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) August 8, 2025
Half time came, and Hall was replaced with another youngster in Alfie Harrison, who might yet find himself with a role to play in the midfield if no new names are brought in before the window shuts in a few weeks time!
By then, we’ll have hopefully bolstered our attacking threat, as again Will Osula seemed to struggle when given the nod from the off.
He tries to do things too quickly at times – not everything needs to be 100mph – and his hold up play was iffy. Aside from one deflected shot saved and one or two fleeting run at their back line, he didn’t pose much of a threat.
Everyone should be leaving the stadium today talking about Park Seung-soo, however. He was promising in both cameos in South Korea and he took his chance again here, this time from the start.
He whipped in one lovely cross on his left after beating his man, often had the beating of the Espanyol right-back, linked up nicely and delivered another wicked cross in the second half, this time cutting in on his right. He could’ve arguably won a penalty, too, showing plenty of promise before being taken off just after the hour mark.
Another positive was Lewis Miley. He’s still getting back to his best after injuries impacted his progress after that brilliant breakthrough season, but the tall 19-year-old put in a polished display at the base of our midfield three, with Bruno also typically all-action in a dominant display from the skipper.
Just when it looked like the game was going to finish level, substitute Jacob Murphy produced another clutch moment to make it 2-1, capitalising on some risky defending from the Spaniards: a textbook high-press Newcastle goal.
Just when it looked like we would finally get our first win of the pre-season, and a deserved one too without us looking particularly impressive, Kike headed past Ramsdale with almost the last touch of the game. Again, our new stopper couldn’t do much about it.
With over 30,000 in attendance, it feels like we still have another level to reach if we want to take all three points at Villa Park next weekend. But throw in the likes of Tonali, Botman, Joelinton, Elanga and a striker into Friday night’s side, and we’d go up another gear.
Signings needed, with the squad still a centre-back, midfielder and two strikers short, especially if Alexander Isak continues to edge towards an exit.
Next up, Wor Lasses tomorrow before we take on La Liga giants Atletico Madrid in the 4.30p kick-off at St James’.
Howay the lads.
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