Newcastle United conclude their pre-season preparations with a friendly fixture against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.
Shortly after the women’s teams battle it out for the Sela Cup, the men’s sides will lock horns for the same trophy, and in case of a draw after 90 minutes, the contest will go straight to penalties to decide the winner.
Match preview
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe on August 3, 2025
After ending their 70-year trophy drought by winning the EFL Cup and finishing fifth in the Premier League last season to secure their spot in the Champions League, Newcastle were hoping to kick on and bolster their squad to put themselves in a stronger position to challenge on all fronts in the 2025-26 campaign. However, Eddie Howe’s side have been left frustrated in the summer transfer market.
Indeed, the Magpies have missed out on several key targets, most recently seeing Benjamin Sesko opt for a move to Manchester United, while unsettled star striker Alexander Isak is training away from the senior squad as he continue to be linked with a record move to Premier League champions Liverpool.
Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale are the only two senior signings made by a Newcastle side who have failed to win any of their opening four pre-season friendlies, losing each of their first three against Celtic (4-0), Arsenal (3-2) and a K-League XI (1-0) before playing out a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday.
Harvey Barnes cancelled out an early strike from Brennan Johnson to ensure that the Magpies came away from their “intense” tour of Asia with a minor positive, and while Howe was keen to praise his side’s character after rescuing a draw, he has acknowledged that “there is not much time” remaining to strengthen his squad in a few key positions before the new season begins.
While Newcastle’s hierarchy will be busy working behind the scenes to bring in new players, Howe and his players are focused on finishing pre-season on a positive note in front of the St James’ Park faithful, following up a friendly clash against Espanyol on Friday with Saturday’s meeting with Atletico. The Magpies have never faced Atletico before, but they have won six and lost seven of their previous 13 competitive meetings with Spanish opposition.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone on August 19, 2024
In contrast to Newcastle, Atletico have been busy in the summer transfer window and have spent in excess of €150m on nine new players to date, including the statement signing of playmaker Alex Baena from Villarreal and the addition of centre-back David Hancko from Feyenoord.
Entering his 14th season as manager, Diego Simeone is seeking improvement from an Atleti side that came up short in La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Champions League last season before suffering a disappointing group-stage exit at the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this summer.
The Spanish giants kick-started their pre-season preparations on August 3 when they faced Porto in a friendly to pay tribute to the late Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. Porto claimed a slender 1-0 win in Portugal courtesy of Victor Froholdt’s goal in first-half stoppage time.
Atletico were then forced to share the spoils with Espanyol following a 1-1 draw in a training match at the Majadahonda Training Centre on Wednesday, with veteran forward Antoine Griezmann scoring an equaliser to cancel out an early opener from the visitors.
Simeone’s side, who have won only 14 of their 39 competitive encounters with English opposition (D13 L12), are hoping to end their pre-season campaign on a high with success over Newcastle this weekend, before taking on Espanyol again in their opening La Liga fixture of the new season on August 17.
Newcastle United pre-season form:
L L L D
Atletico Madrid pre-season form:
L D
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon on August 3, 2025
With Newcastle taking on Espanyol on Friday, it remains to be seen which players will be involved on Saturday and if any will be selected for both fixtures.
Joe Willock is one guaranteed absentee as he continues to recover from a calf injury, while Sven Botman is a doubt after missing the last two friendlies with a groin issue sustained in the defeat to Arsenal just under a fortnight ago.
Liverpool-linked Isak will not be involved, so Anthony Gordon could begin down the middle, with Elanga, Barnes and Jacob Murphy all battling for spots out wide, unless Will Osula is chosen to start through the middle.
As for Atletico Madrid, Simeone is expected to give several of his first-team players valuable minutes as they continue to build up their match fitness and rhythm ahead of the new season, but with this being the club’s final friendly of the summer, a strong lineup could be named.
Julian Alvarez was Atletico’s top scorer last season with 29 goals and is one of four former Premier League players along with Conor Gallagher, Clement Lenglet and Alexander Sorloth who could be involved this weekend.
Jose Gimenez could form a centre-back partnership with either Lenglet or new recruit Hancko in front of goalkeeper Jan Oblak, while Baena and Giuliano Simeone may provide support from out wide for centre-forwards Alvarez and Griezmann.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Miley, Guimaraes, Tonali; Murphy, Osula, Barnes
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Molina, Gimenez, Hancko, Ruggeri; Baena, Gallagher, Koke, Simeone; Griezmann, Alvarez
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We say: Newcastle United 1-2 Atletico Madrid
A closely-contested battle could be on the cards between two teams still searching for their first pre-season victory. Newcastle will back themselves to go toe-to-toe with Atletico if they are to field a strong lineup, but if several first-team regulars are missing, then the Spanish giants may have too much for the Magpies.
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