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.

Panathinaikos and Ajax renew their historic rivalry on Thursday, August 8 in a thrilling Europa League third-round qualifier. 

The first leg takes place in Athens, where both teams aim to secure a crucial advantage and a playoff spot against either Bodo/Glimt or Jagiellonia Białystok.

Panathinaikos Look to Continue European Revival | Home Win = 2.23

Panathinaikos, returning to European competition after finishing fourth in the Greek Super League playoffs, have started their campaign on a high note. They defeated Botev Plovdiv with a 2-1 victory at home and a commanding 4-0 win away, thanks to the impressive form of Swedish striker Alexander Jeremejeff, who netted three goals in the tie.

Under the guidance of new head coach Diego Alonso, who replaced Fatih Terim in May, Panathinaikos aims to challenge for domestic glory and secure a spot in the Europa League group stages. The Greens narrowly missed out on the Champions League last year and are determined to make a deeper run in Europe this season.

Historically, Panathinaikos reached the 1971 European Cup final but fell to Ajax. Now, they hope to rewrite their European history with a strong performance against the Dutch giants.

Ajax Aim for Stability and Success | Away Win = 3.05

Ajax, boasting a rich European heritage, face the challenge of rebuilding under new coach Francesco Farioli. The Amsterdam club had a tumultuous last season, finishing fifth in the Eredivisie after a poor start. However, they have shown resilience by defeating Vojvodina 4-1 on aggregate in the second round of Europa League qualifying.

Ajax have won six consecutive matches, including pre-season games against Rangers and Olympiacos. With key players like Brian Brobbey and Jorrel Hato remaining at the club, Ajax are poised for a strong campaign under Farioli’s leadership.

Despite off-field issues, Ajax’s European pedigree remains intact. Their triumph in the 1971 European Cup against Panathinaikos marked the beginning of a dominant era, and they are eager to reclaim their status in European football.

Key Players & Team News

For Panathinaikos, summer signings Sverrir Ingi Ingason, Nemanja Maksimovic, and Tete played pivotal roles in their previous victory. Slovenian midfielder Adam Gnezda Cerin is expected to start, while Alexander Jeremejeff will lead the attack, having scored seven goals in 14 league games last season and already netting three in Europa League qualifying.

Ajax will miss goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, still on leave after the Olympics, leaving Diant Ramaj and veteran Remko Pasveer to compete for the starting spot. Injuries have sidelined Owen Wijndal and Gaston Avila, but Brian Brobbey and Steven Bergwijn could feature after returning to training.

The visitors are likely to field Chuba Akpom as the forward, with Jordan Henderson and Kenneth Taylor controlling the midfield. Steven Berghuis and Branco van den Boomen are also pushing for starting roles.

Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 3.40

Ajax has a better head-to-head in games against Panathinaikos with four (4) wins from their last five (5) meetings, which include and home and away victory in the 2016 Europa League. | Specials Market: Draw/Away = 1.99

Panathinaikos have shown good form with four (4) wins from their last five (5) games in all competitions including a home and away 6-1 win over Botev Plovdiv in the previous round of qualifiers. | Specials Market: Over 2.5 & Yes = 1.94

There have been three (3) over 2.5 goals in both Panathinaikos and Ajax’s last five (5) games in all competitions. Over 2.5 goals occurred in three (3) of their last five (5). \ | Main Market: Over 3.5 = 2.70

 

You can follow the Panathinaikos vs. Ajax Europa League match on MSport here.