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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Louise Taylor at St James' Park

Newcastle’s Matthias Jaissle looks on bright side despite lacklustre Leverkusen defeat

Crowded by players from both sides, Malick Thiaw rises highest to head home a goal for Newcastle
A re-energised Malick Thiaw draws Newcastle United level in the friendly against Bayer Leverkusen. Photograph: Michelle Mercer/Newcastle United/Getty Images

Reasons to be fearful or cause to be cheerful? Newcastle fans among a crowd in excess of 39,000 at St James’ Park on Saturday had much to debate as they headed home from a slightly underwhelming 2-1 friendly defeat by Bayer Leverkusen.

The bad news is that a suddenly youthful team still coming to terms with life without this summer’s departed stars, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães, look more than a little undercooked before Liverpool’s visit on Premier League duty next Sunday.

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