Newcastle 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen

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Newcastle were largely outclassed in a 2-1 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the first part of the Visit Malta (formerly Sela Cup) double header.

There were strong echoes of last season as Newcastle conceded within the first minute then failed to make any sort of attacking imprint on the game.

Thiaw powered home an Elanga corner to level just before half time but that was as good as it got, Boniface coming on to score a late winner as we ran out of steam.

The wisdom of holding this double header has to be questioned with such a thin squad, and will mean we go into the Liverpool opener with Jaissle having never fielded his strongest XI together.