As the 2024-25 season draws near, Newcastle United and Girona, La Liga’s newest force, face off in a pre-season friendly at St James' Park on Friday, August 8.
This match marks the sixth pre-season game for both teams, offering them another chance to fine-tune their strategies before the competitive fixtures begin.
Newcastle Aim to Bounce Back After Mixed Results | Home Win = 2.10
Newcastle United have been working hard to prepare for the upcoming Premier League season. After a week-long tour of Japan, where they played Urawa Red Diamonds and Yokohama F. Marinos, the Magpies returned home with good minutes.
They convincingly defeated Urawa 4-1, with Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak, and Lewis Hall all finding the back of the net. However, they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Yokohama F. Marinos in their following match.
Manager Eddie Howe acknowledged the disappointment of the Yokohama loss but focused on the positives, particularly the valuable game time for several key players. With just two friendlies remaining, including this clash with Girona, Newcastle is looking to build momentum ahead of their Premier League opener against Southampton on August 17.
Newcastle finished seventh in the Premier League last season, and their pre-season form has been a mixed bag, with three wins and two losses. Howe will be hoping his side can use these final matches to sharpen their play and enter the new season with confidence.
Girona Target Strong Finish to Pre-Season | Away Win = 3.00
Girona, meanwhile, are looking to cap off their pre-season campaign with a strong performance in England. The Spanish side, who finished third in La Liga last season and secured a historic Champions League qualification, have had a challenging pre-season.
They failed to win any of their first four friendlies, drawing three and losing one. However, they turned a corner with a 2-0 victory over Napoli, thanks to goals from Donny van de Beek and Toni Villa.
Under head coach Michel, Girona have been preparing for their La Liga opener against Real Betis on August 15. The team has undergone significant changes this summer, with seven new signings, including Oriol Romeu on loan from Barcelona.
Michel will be looking for his side to gel quickly and put in a strong performance against Newcastle, as they aim to carry momentum into their domestic and European campaigns.
Key Players & Team News:
For Newcastle, manager Eddie Howe is likely to rotate his squad to give as many players as possible some match action. Fabian Schar, Bruno Guimaraes, and new signing Lloyd Kelly all made their first pre-season appearances in the last match and are expected to feature again.
Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon have returned to training after their involvement in Euro 2024, but their participation in this match remains uncertain.
Girona will be without new signings Ladislav Krejci and Gabriel Misehouy, who are side-lined with muscle injuries, as well as Jhon Solis and Viktor Tsygankov, who are recovering from thigh issues.
Oriol Romeu could make his first appearance since returning to the club, while Bryan Gil, Portu, Valery Fernandez, and Cristian Stuani are all in contention for starting spots in the attacking lineup.
Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 3.80
Both Newcastle and Girona are using this match as a crucial preparation step for the upcoming season. Newcastle’s mixed pre-season form suggests a closely contested encounter could be on the cards. | Main Market: Draw = 2.81
Newcastle have shown attacking flair in their pre-season, highlighted by their four goals against Urawa Red Diamonds. | Specials Market: Home/Draw & Over 2.5 = 3.35
Girona, on the other hand, have struggled to find consistency but will be buoyed by their recent win over Napoli. Their ability to compete against top-tier opponents could make this a tight affair. | Specials Market: Draw/Away & Under 2.5 = 3.45
You can follow the Newcastle United vs. Girona pre-season friendly on MSport here.
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