Newcastle United have confirmed they will face Bundesliga opposition VfL Wolfsburg and Mainz 05 in their preparations for the new Premier League season.
Rafael Benitez will travel to Germany ahead of their fixture with Wolfsburg on Saturday, July 29 at the AOK Stadion. Four days later on Wednesday, August 2, the Magpies will travel to Opel Arena, the home of Mainz, before heading back to the North East.
Before their journey back to Tyneside, it is likely Newcastle will release details of a home friendly for Saturday, August 5, a week before they host Tottenham Hotspur in their top-flight opener.
The Opposition
Benitez' men will be testing their wits against two sides who narrowly avoided relegation from the German first division. Wolfsburg were one game away losing their top-flight status but prolonged their Bundesliga stay by winning their relegation play-off with Eintracht Braunschweig 2-0 on aggregate.
Though it could have been Mainz in that relegation play-off spot if wasn't for their better goal difference over Andries Jonker's men. Both Wolfsburg and Mainz finished on 37 points last season. But because Mainz had a seven-goal difference over their relegation rivals meant it was Wolfsburg who would occupy 16th place and face demotion.
With these two games falling close to the competitive season, this might give Benitez a good idea at where his squad is at.
Last time in Germany
The Magpies took part in a pre-season tour of Germany in 2014 under Alan Pardew when they participated in the Schalke 04 Cup.
Hosted at the Veltins-Arena, Newcastle joined Schalke 04, Malaga and West Ham United, though never faced the Hammers due to how the tournament worked.
Pardew's side played two group stage games, the first coming against Malaga in a 3-1 defeat. The Toon Army then faced Schalke, where goals from Emmanuel Riviere, Rolando Aarons and Remy Cabella saw the Magpies run out 3-1 to finish as runners-up behind winners Malaga.
Like in 2014, Newcastle will be hoping to witness an encouraging performance over German opposition.