Preview: Newcastle United vs Espanyol – prediction, team news, lineups KIK BALL

Newcastle United will continue their preparations for the 2025-26 Premier League campaign with a pre-season friendly against La Liga outfit Espanyol on Friday night.

The Magpies were last in action on Sunday, drawing 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur in Seoul, while Espanyol will enter the match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Union Berlin on Saturday.

Match preview

Newcastle’s preparations for the 2025-26 Premier League season have been far from ideal, and head coach Eddie Howe is having to put on a brave face amid a difficult period for the Magpies.

The club had been hopeful of completing a big-money deal for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, which would have eased some of the gloom, but Manchester United are now seemingly close to signing the Slovenia international.

Anthony Elanga, Antonito Cordero and Aaron Ramsdale have been the club’s three summer signings, but Newcastle have also missed out on Bryan Mbeumo to Man United in the current window, while their star man Alexander Isak has made it clear that he wants to leave for Liverpool.

In terms of pre-season results, Newcastle began their preparations for the new season with a 4-0 victory over Carlisle United, but they lost three straight games against Celtic, Arsenal and K-League XI before finishing their pre-season tour with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham last time out.

The Magpies will open their new season away to Aston Villa on August 16, but they will play once more in pre-season after the clash with Espanyol, facing Atletico Madrid on Saturday afternoon.

Espanyol, meanwhile, have won four of their five pre-season matches, including their last three against Southampton, Wolfsburg and Union Berlin, so confidence should be high in the camp.

The Catalan outfit finished 14th in Spain’s top flight last season, boasting a record of 11 wins, nine draws and 18 defeats from their 38 matches to collect 42 points, which left them two points above the relegation zone.

Manolo Gonzalez‘s side have been incredibly busy during this summer’s transfer window, with the squad in need of a refresh, and that has happened, with nine new players making the move to the club.

Espanyol have also allowed 11 players to leave, including number one goalkeeper Joan Garcia, with the Catalan outfit banking in the region of £21m by selling the Spaniard to Barcelona.

The White and Blues will open their 2025-26 La Liga campaign against Atletico on August 17, and there is certainly room for improvement this term considering their league position last season.

Newcastle United pre-season form:

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Espanyol pre-season form:

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Team News

Isak has been back at Newcastle’s training ground this week, but the Sweden international is highly unlikely to be involved against Espanyol amid the speculation surrounding his future.

Joe Willock is injured and will not feature, while Sven Botman is a slight doubt, but Newcastle are otherwise in good shape in terms of their first-team squad, with Lewis Hall making his return against Tottenham.

Anthony Gordon featured through the middle against Tottenham, showing the club’s issues in the final third of the field, and that is again expected to be the case.

Meanwhile, there is likely to be a debut between the sticks for recent arrival Ramsdale.

As for Espanyol, there are set to be a number of new faces on display, including Tyrhys Dolan, who has made the move to the club from Blackburn Rovers during this summer’s market.

Javi Puado was Espanyol’s leading goalscorer last season, finding the back of the net on 12 occasions in all competitions, and he is again set to feature from the first whistle.

There will also be a spot in the side for Roberto Fernandez, who has made the move to the club on a permanent basis this summer after a successful loan spell from Braga in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign.

Newcastle United possible starting lineup:

Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall; Bruno, Joelinton, Tonali; Murphy, Gordon, Barnes

Espanyol possible starting lineup:

Fortuno; El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, Romero; Terrats, Edu; Dolan, Hernandez, Puado; Fernandez

We say: Newcastle United 2-1 Espanyol

Espanyol have been in good form during pre-season and will provide Newcastle with a tough test on Friday; the Magpies are struggling at the moment, but we are expecting them to pick up a much-needed win in front of their own supporters.

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