Newcastle United 1-2 bayer leverkusen: goals and highlights — as it happened

Here are the highlights from this sporting event. Enjoy the best and most exciting plays from another day of the sport you love. Remember to stay connected to VAVEL.com to keep up to date with the best of world sport.

Newcastle were behind again and needed to react quickly. The equalizer had restored the home side's confidence, but Boniface's goal completely changed the game. The English team then had to push forward and find ways to break down the German defense.

Newcastle were looking to capitalize on the momentum of their home crowd, while Leverkusen were finding space whenever they managed to break through the first line of pressure. Transitions proved to be key, and every recovery could quickly turn into an attacking opportunity. With the score tied, it felt like a single moment of brilliance, an individual effort, or a set piece could ultimately prove decisive.

Although Newcastle were taking the initiative, Leverkusen did not abandon their plan. The German side had players ready to break quickly when they won back possession and looked to exploit the spaces left by the home team's high defensive line. The 1-1 scoreline kept everything balanced and forced both teams to find the perfect balance between attacking decisively and maintaining defensive order.

The home side were increasingly camped in Leverkusen's penalty area. Newcastle were moving the ball around, searching for a gap in the German defense and trying to exploit the speed of their attacking players. After equalizing before halftime, the English side seemed to have regained their confidence and were looking to complete the comeback. Leverkusen needed to remain focused to avoid another setback.

The game was heating up in midfield. Newcastle and Leverkusen contested every ball as if it were crucial, with constant pressure and quick transitions whenever either side won possession back. The score was level, meaning neither team wanted to give anything away, but at the same time, both needed to create scoring opportunities. The following minutes could be decisive in determining who would ultimately take control.

Bayer Leverkusen responded to Newcastle's strong start and continued to patiently build from the back. The German side looked to play out from the back, quickly switching play from wing to wing and finding gaps in the home team's structure. The 1-1 scoreline kept the tension high, as either team could regain the lead. The second half began with great intensity, and there was still plenty to play for.

Newcastle came out with renewed energy after the break and looked to translate that confidence onto the pitch. The home side pushed forward, disrupting Leverkusen's build-up play and forcing the German team to play under pressure. The equalizer had changed the dynamic of the match, and Newcastle seemed determined to capitalize on the momentum gained before halftime and search for a second goal.

Newcastle were starting to apply more aggressive pressure in the opposition's half. The home side were trying to quickly win back every ball lost by Leverkusen and, above all, prevent the German team from playing out comfortably from the back.

Ibrahim Maza became the star of the match after opening the scoring for Bayer Leverkusen. The striker was finding space and his presence between the lines was a constant concern for Newcastle. Beyond the goal, his movement helped the German side connect the midfield with their attackers. Newcastle had to adjust if they wanted to prevent Leverkusen from continuing to exploit those spaces.

With the score in their favor, Bayer Leverkusen tried to slow the pace and slow down their possession. The German team moved the ball from side to side, trying to force Newcastle out of their defensive structure. The lead allowed the visitors to play with more confidence, although there was still a long way to go and any turnover in a dangerous area could bring the home side back into the game.

Newcastle United were determined not to be outdone after the setback. The home side pushed forward and increasingly pressed for a way into Leverkusen's penalty area. Their response had to come from intensity and quick passing, because the German team now had the advantage and could control the tempo with greater ease.

Newcastle were looking to put a positive spin on the game in front of their home fans, while Leverkusen maintained their focus and looked to exploit any available space. Beyond the scoreline, this type of match allowed the coaches to assess team dynamics, intensity, and overall performance before official fixtures. The stakes were high, and there was still more to come.

Newcastle and Leverkusen were trading attacks, and the ball moved quickly from one end of the pitch to the other. The defenses were increasingly busy trying to control the transitions, while the attackers looked to exploit any gaps. In a friendly like this, that pace was particularly interesting because it allowed you to observe how the teams responded to different scenarios and what tactical alternatives their coaches were preparing.

The home side were trying to regain control of the game and gradually pushed their lines forward. The St James' Park crowd also started to make its presence felt, urging the team on every time Newcastle got near the German penalty area. The ball was moving faster and more players were appearing in attacking positions. The big challenge then was to maintain that pace without leaving gaps at the back, because Leverkusen were waiting for an opportunity to attack in open space.

The midfield was becoming one of the decisive areas of the match. Newcastle were trying to impose intensity and quickly recover possession after losing the ball, while Leverkusen looked to circulate the ball and find spaces between the lines. Every recovery led to an immediate transition to attack. The result could change rapidly if either team managed to definitively win that battle in the center of the pitch.

Yoane Wissa was one of the names attracting the most attention in Newcastle's attack. The striker constantly looked for space between the defenders and tried to capitalize on every ball that came his way in the final third. His movement forced Leverkusen's defense to stay very focused. Newcastle needed precisely these kinds of movements to find paths into the box and convert their territorial dominance into clear scoring opportunities.

The German side managed to break through some of the pressure and began to create some interesting situations near the home team's penalty area. Newcastle did not give up on attacking, but they had to be very careful when they lost possession, because Leverkusen demonstrated speed in turning a recovery into an offensive opportunity in a matter of seconds. It was an open game with chances for both sides.

It was worth remembering that both teams played on Wednesday, August 12th. Newcastle lost 3-1 to Everton, while Leverkusen fell 2-1 to Nottingham Forest.

This meant that this match came just 72 hours after the previous two.

It would not have been surprising, then, if both managers managed their players' workloads and made several changes during the game. The second half could be particularly interesting if both managers completely overhauled their starting lineups.

The match also had an interesting aspect: it was not a long-standing rivalry. Therefore, this game was best understood in the present, rather than through the lens of historical rivalry.

It was a test between two top-tier European clubs undergoing periods of transition.

This was probably the most important area.

Newcastle had lost Bruno Guimarães and were still reorganizing their midfield. Leverkusen, on the other hand, wanted to impose their passing game and movement.

The team that managed to control this area would be able to dictate the tempo.

If Newcastle won the ball back and counter-attacked, they could cause serious problems. If Leverkusen established long spells of possession, they would force Newcastle to retreat and create space.

If Leverkusen maintained a three-man defense, the wing-backs would be crucial.

The system could create numerical superiority in the build-up play, but it also left space on the flanks when the team lost possession.

Newcastle possessed speed on the wings and could try to attack precisely those areas.

Therefore, it would not have been surprising to see periods where the match became a back-and-forth affair.

Bayer 04 themselves confirmed that the match against Newcastle would be their final preseason friendly before the official start of the 2026/27 season.

The official competition began after that.

Leverkusen will make their DFB-Pokal debut on August 22 against SV Wehen Wiesbaden, so Carles Martínez had practically a week to draw conclusions from this match.

Carles Martínez took charge of the team this season and used preseason to implement a style of play that emphasized intensity, movement, and pressure.

The Spanish coach also favored a three-man central defense with wing-backs, although these formations could vary depending on the opponent.

The German striker knew the opponent perfectly and represented one of Newcastle's main attacking weapons.

His presence also added a special dimension to the match: facing a German club always generated interest for a player who returned to England after spending a significant part of his career in Germany.

Woltemade would be crucial if Newcastle wanted to attack a Leverkusen side that could defend with many players behind the ball.

The Brazilian midfielder, captain and one of the most important players in the club's recent history, was sold to Arsenal for around 75 million pounds.

It was a huge sporting loss. It was not simply a matter of replacing a midfielder. Jaissle had to rebuild an entire area of the pitch around the absence of a player who contributed significantly.

Wednesday's defeat to Everton was particularly worrying. The Toffees won 3-1, and Jaissle's side once again displayed defensive weaknesses and a lack of clinical finishing.

So the match against Leverkusen came at an awkward time: Newcastle needed a positive feeling immediately before the start of the official competition.