Newcastle United hosts German side Bayer Leverkusen at St James’ Park on Saturday, August 15, 2026, in a pre-season friendly. The match kicks off at 3pm BST and serves as one of the final warm-ups before the Premier League season begins next week.
Manager Matthias Jaissle takes charge of his third Newcastle United match as the club works through a demanding pre-season schedule. The fixture arrives just eight days before the Premier League season kicks off for the Magpies, leaving little time to iron out recent tactical and defensive difficulties.
Pre-Season Struggles and Squad Adjustments
Newcastle’s summer preparation has been uneven under Jaissle. The team earned victories over Darlington (3-0) and Valencia (2-1), but stumbled heavily in subsequent outings. Defensive frailties and missed opportunities in front of goal surfaced during a 4-1 defeat to Bristol City, followed by a disappointing 3-1 reverse to Everton.
These early trials carry extra weight following high-profile summer roster changes. The club navigates life after the departures of Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimarães, making Saturday’s clash an essential opportunity for squad integration before the serious points are tallied next weekend.
Team News, Fitness Updates, and Predicted Lineup
The hosts face a mixed bag of injury concerns and returning personnel. Fabian Schär and Lewis Miley are making strong progress in their recoveries from groin and fibula injuries respectively, and could make brief appearances as they edge toward full match fitness.
Longer-term absences remain a challenge. Tino Livramento continues his rehabilitation in the United States for a serious calf and knee ligament problem, ruling him out of the upcoming league opener. Meanwhile, left-back Lewis Hall is listed as a late fitness doubt due to a minor knock, which places Dylan Charlton on standby to step into the starting XI.
Further up the pitch, new summer signing Bazoumana Touré is expected to feature on the left wing. Anthony Elanga has recovered from a recent health scare and should line up on the right.
According to preview projections, Newcastle’s possible starting XI features Hornicek in goal, behind a backline of Shahar, Thiaw, Botman, and Charlton. Bamba and Joelinton are slated to anchor the midfield, supporting an attacking unit of Elanga, Wissa, Touré, and Osula.
Global Broadcast Options and Upcoming Schedule
Supporters in the United Kingdom can watch a live video stream of the friendly via DAZN UK for active subscribers. International coverage spans multiple global networks and streaming platforms.
Regional broadcast partners include STARZPLAY and ADtv across parts of the Middle East and North Africa, ESPN Africa and DStv Now across sub-Saharan Africa, and Disney+ Premium or ESPN services across Latin America and the Caribbean. European viewers can tune in through channels such as Arena Sport, Sport TV, and VG+, while club-specific streaming is available globally through nufcTV at various price points.
Once the final whistle blows on Saturday afternoon, Newcastle will turn around quickly to face Strasbourg in another friendly at St James’ Park on Sunday, August 16, at 4pm. That back-to-back weekend concludes the pre-season slate, setting the stage for the Premier League opener against Liverpool on Sunday, August 23, at 4:30pm.
